Kent State University Catalog 2011

All Policies

Purpose: The Academic Forgiveness Policy pertains only to former Kent State students returning to the university as undergraduate students after a significant absence. It provides them an opportunity to have their academic standing reflect their increased maturity and readiness, and improved level of academic performance gained since the interruption of studies at Kent State. Specifically, once the returning students have demonstrated the ability to sustain a satisfactory level of academic performance following their return, all grades of C-, D+, D, F, NF, SF, M and U earned during the previous Kent State enrollment will be disregarded in the cumulative calculations of hours attempted, quality points earned and grade point average.

Eligibility: The Academic Forgiveness Policy is available to returning students who have not been enrolled at Kent State University for a period of at least one calendar year (12 months)

Procedure: The established university and collegiate procedures and criteria for readmission or reinstatement apply to all students, including those who may be eligible for the application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy. Prior to the completion of 12 hours of graded academic coursework since their return to Kent State, former students who meet the eligibility requirement indicated above may request the application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy to their academic record by submitting a written petition to the dean of the college or independent school in which the students enrolled upon returning to Kent State. The records of the students will then be reviewed by the appropriate dean at the conclusion of each term following the students' return.

If the students maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA through the term that encompasses the 12th hour of graded coursework after returning to the university, the Academic Forgiveness Policy shall be implemented and the following steps taken with regard to the students' academic record:

All courses in which grades of C-, D+, D, F, NF, SF, M or U were received in the previous period of Kent State enrollment will be retained on the academic transcript with the notation of an "E" in the repeat column, which denotes courses excluded from GPA calculation, and the official grade will be changed to X* (e.g., XC-, XD, etc.), which denotes academic forgiveness.
All cumulative calculations of hours attempted, quality points earned and cumulative GPA also will be adjusted.
If a student has been awarded an associate degree from Kent State University, only courses taken after the associate degree will be eligible for application of Academic Forgiveness Policy.

If the students fail to maintain a minimum 2.00 average for the first 12 semester hours of graded coursework following return to the university, the eligibility period shall be extended to the term that encompasses the 24th semester hour of graded academic coursework after the students' resumption of study at Kent State. If, at this point, the students' GPA since their return has attained the minimum 2.00 level, the Academic Forgiveness Policy will be implemented; if not, eligibility for the Academic Forgiveness Policy shall have expired.

Exceptions/Explanations: The Academic Forgiveness Policy is non-selective. It applies to all grades below C (2.00), with the exception of courses taken on a pass/fail basis, that were earned in the previous period of Kent State University enrollment, or to none. In the event that a course for which the students previously had received a "passing" grade of C-, D+ or D is required for the degree program the students are pursuing, the students must retake this course unless the dean of the college in which the students are enrolled approves a suitable substitution. The original GPA (unadjusted by the application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy) will be used in determining eligibility for university, collegial, departmental or professional honors or other recognition based upon the entirety of students' undergraduate academic career and record of academic performance. Former students returning to the university may request the application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy to their record only once in their career at Kent State and within the eligibility standard.

The Academic Forgiveness Policy applies only to coursework formerly taken at Kent State University and only to the students' Kent State transcript. It is available only to undergraduate students and applies only to a student's standing toward an undergraduate degree program of the university. The dean of the college, independent school or Regional Campus in which the students are enrolled at the time of initial eligibility for application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy (the term which encompasses the 12th hour of graded coursework since returning to Kent State) shall determine all questions as to eligibility for, and application of, the Academic Forgiveness Policy. [back]

ACADEMIC STANDING

Because students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative (counting all work) grade point average (GPA) to graduate from the university, they must maintain that average throughout the undergraduate years. Students whose GPA falls below 2.00 should make a positive effort to improve their academic performance. Such students should devote their entire attention and energies to their studies by improving study habits and concentrating on such basic skills as composition, reading and mathematics.

President's List: In recognition of an extremely high level of academic excellence, a President’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a 4.00 GPA in the semester and must have completed 15 or more credit hours (all of which must have regular letter grades) by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.
Dean’s List for Full-Time Students: In recognition of academic excellence, a Dean’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.40 GPA in the semester and must have completed 12 or more regular letter-graded credit hours by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.
Dean’s List for Part-Time Students: A Dean’s List for Part-Time Students is compiled after spring semester grades are issued. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.40 GPA in 12 or more regular letter-graded hours taken during the previous summer, fall and spring semesters. Such students must have registered for fewer than 12 hours in each of the semesters under consideration. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.
In Good Academic Standing: Students with a minimum 2.00 GPA are in good academic standing. Students with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 are placed on academic probation. Good academic standing is not the same as eligibility for financial aid or for participation in other activities of the university such as athletics, student organization leadership, extracurricular activities, etc. For information about eligibility standards, students should contact the appropriate office or organization.
Midterm Warning: Students who earn a midterm GPA of less than 2.00 will be placed on "Midterm Warning."
Semester Warning: Students with a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA who earn a semester GPA of less than 2.00 in any given semester will be placed on "Semester Warning."
Selected Academic Program Warning: If a student's GPA does not meet the standards required for a selective program, the dean may place the student on "Selective Academic Program Warning." The student would be allowed to remain enrolled in the selective major while attempting to improve academic performance.
Not Permitted to Continue: If a student's GPA does not meet the standards required for a selective program, the dean may decide that the student is "Not Permitted to Continue" in that academic program. Unless the student's cumulative GPA also is below the dismissal standard, the student may continue at the university, but may either be asked to change to a "general" category in the college of the student's major (for exploration of other majors in the college) or be referred to another program (including those on the Regional Campuses) that does not have a graduation standard above the university minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
Academic Probation: Students who fail to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 will be placed on academic probation. This probation signifies that the cumulative performance is below the minimum university requirement for graduation. Probation is an emphatic warning to the students that the quality of their academic performance must improve if they are to obtain the minimum grades required for graduation. Students on probation must show considerable improvement in their academic work or they will be dismissed from the university. Students on probation must reduce their course load as prescribed by the dean. The students also should reduce participation in social and extracurricular activities. Students are removed from probation only when they have achieved a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. Students on probation will be notified by their dean's office. In addition, the following students will be placed on probation:
1. Students reinstated to the university after being dismissed because of poor scholarship.
2. Transfer students whose cumulative records at all previous institutions do not meet the minimum grade point average requirements of Kent State University. [back]

ADULT STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Undergraduate students who are 21 years or older and will have been graduated from high school for three or more years at the time of their first college enrollment are considered freshman adult students. Students fitting these criteria and who have earned a GED with a comprehensive score of at least 265 and whose high school class will have been graduated for three years or more at the time of the applicant’s first enrollment are also classified as adult students. Adult students who have earned previous credits at any post-secondary institution are considered transfer students. Official transcripts from each school attended must be provided for admission consideration. For adult students who have completed 12 or more semester hours of transferable college credit elsewhere, a high school transcript is not required. (See required credentials in the Transfer Student Admissions section.) Prospective and admitted adults students should contact the Center for Adult and Veteran Services for counseling and help with procedures. [back]

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

The State of Ohio, working through the University System of Ohio, has initiated policies to facilitate the ease of transition from high school to college as well as between and among Ohio's public colleges and universities.

Beginning in the fall term 2009:

Students obtaining an Advanced Placement (AP) exam score of 3 or above will be awarded the aligned course(s) and credits for the AP exam area(s) successfully completed.
General Education courses and credits received will be applied towards graduation and will satisfy a general education requirement if the course(s) to which the AP area is equivalent fulfill a requirements.
If an equivalent course is not available for the AP exam area completed, elective or area credit will be awarded in the appropriate academic discipline and will be applied towards graduation where such elective credit options exist within the academic major.
Additional courses or credits may be available when a score of 4 or 5 is obtained. Award of credit for higher score values varies depending on the institution and academic discipline.
In academic disciplines containing highly dependent sequences (Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics—STEM) students are strongly advised to confer with the college/university advising staff to ensure they have the appropriate foundation to be successful in advanced coursework within the sequence.

The awarding of credit through the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) program is coordinated by the Honors College; this credit is based on college-level high school courses and tests administered through the high schools. [back]

AWARD OF A MASTER’S DEGREE TO A DOCTORAL STUDENT

A student who has been admitted to and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree may apply for a master’s degree in the same department in which the doctorate is to be taken. Upon certification that the student has met the requirements for the master’s degree in that department, the degree may be awarded. The total number of graduate hours required for the Ph.D. shall not be altered thereby. [back]

CANDIDACY FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE

To become a candidate for the doctorate, a student must pass a candidacy (comprehensive) examination in the field of the major subject. This examination will be taken when departmental requirements have been met, but it should not be taken later than nine months before the student expects to receive the degree. The content and scope of the examination are determined by the department concerned. The examination may be either written or oral or both. The student is not permitted to continue with the dissertation unless this requirement is satisfied. Failure on the candidacy examination and a subsequent prescription and reexamination are subject to departmental policy. When opportunities for such reexamination are exhausted without success, the student will be dismissed from graduate study. [back]

CATALOG RIGHTS AND EXCLUSIONS

The university has established the following Catalog rights and exclusions relating to degree requirements. While these Catalog rights establish specific degree requirements for students, the exclusions noted ensure that the knowledge and skills acquired by students will be current with the state of knowledge in their fields of study.

Rights

Students' academic requirements are based on the Catalog that is in force during their first semester of enrollment at Kent State University.
Students may elect to complete a degree program under a more recent Catalog. When changing Catalog year, students must comply with all of the requirements relevant to their program in the newer Catalog.
Catalog rights may be granted through inter-institutional curricular agreements. Such rights are subject to the same exclusions noted below.

Exclusions

Students who transfer to another university and return to Kent State are readmitted under the Catalog-in-force at the time of readmission.
Undergraduate students who do not satisfactorily complete 12 semester hours at Kent State in two calendar years must satisfy the requirements of the most recent Catalog. Transient work, Credit-By-Examination and coursework receiving grades of AU, F, NF, SF, IN, NR, W, U or Z will not count toward completing the 12 hours.
Undergraduate students who do not complete degree requirements within six years are required to update to the current Catalog.
Dismissed students are reinstated under the Catalog-in-force at the time of reinstatement.
Changes in degree requirements will be made to keep programs in compliance with accreditation, certification or licensure standards. Implementation of these standards may require that students update to the current Catalog.
Program changes may be required by financial urgency, unavailability of faculty or unavailability of other instructional resources. In these instances, the dean of the students' college will identify available alternatives for the completion of degree requirements.

In rare instances an exception to the above policy may be granted by the college dean. [back]

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Classes are conducted on the premise that regular attendance is expected. The individual instructor has both the responsibility and the prerogative for managing student attendance. If students anticipate an absence, they should consult with the instructor individually. In the event the absence was due to illness or injury, verification from the medical professional treating the illness or injury should be presented to the instructor. [back]

CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS

An undergraduate student is classified as follows:

FRESHMAN — 0 to 29 hours of earned credit
SOPHOMORE — 30 to 59 hours of earned credit
JUNIOR — 60 to 89 hours of earned credit
SENIOR — 90 hours to graduation [back]

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

Students may earn academic credit through the College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP) administered by the Career Services Center. CLEP allows a student to earn college credit for prior knowledge and move on to more advanced coursework sooner. Credit, but no letter grade, is granted for scores meeting the minimum required score of 50, equivalent to a “C” grade. For additional CLEP information, including available tests, Kent State course equivalents and test dates, visit the Career Services website. See Credit Testing Eligibility in this section for more regulations on awarding credit through testing. [back]

CORRESPONDENCE COURSES

Kent State University does not offer correspondence courses. However, the university will accept up to 11 semester hours of correspondence work from an accredited institution, provided each course is completed with a grade of at least C and is applicable to the students’ degree program. Correspondence credit does not count toward the final year of required work in-residence. [back]

COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM

Kent State University's numbering system for courses is as follows:

10000-19999		Freshman level
20000-29999		Sophomore level
30000-39999		Junior level
40000-49999		Senior level
50000-59999		Master's level
60000-69999		Master's level
70000-79999		Doctoral level
80000-89999		Doctoral level

Undergraduate courses (10000-49999) are generally open to students of a class rank equivalent to the levels indicated. Students participating in the Honors, Early Admissions and Advanced Placement (AP) programs, as well as those who otherwise present evidence of qualifications beyond their class rank, may enroll in the appropriate undergraduate courses with the approval of their advisors and the instructors or departments offering the courses.

Most courses are offered in a regular sequence to meet students’ programmatic needs; however, the availability of any specific course in a given semester is subject to sufficient student demand and available resources. Some courses require that a special fee be paid in addition to instructional and general fees. A listing of courses with these special fees can be found on the Bursar's Office website.

Courses numbered 50000 and above are for graduate students only and are referred to as graduate courses. Many of the 50000-level courses are also offered at the 40000 level for undergraduates. Students who have already completed 40000-level courses may not repeat the courses at the 50000-level for credit toward a graduate degree. No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses. [back]

COURSE OVERLOAD FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Eligible undergraduate students who have a minimum of 12 Kent State earned credit hours and meet the Kent State GPA guidelines may register for a course overload through an automated process. A course overload is considered as:

More than 18 credit hours in fall or spring semester.
More than 6 credit hours in a single five-week summer session; more than 10 hours in an eight-week summer session; more than 10 hours in overlapping summer sessions; or more than 12 hours for all summer sessions combined.

Kent State GPA guidelines for an automatic overload:

	Student GPA	Permitted hours over 18 for fall and spring semesters
	2.500 - 2.749	1
	2.750 - 2.999	1 -2
	3.000 - 4.000	1 - 3

Criteria for eligibility:

First-semester transfer students and freshmen without a Kent State GPA are excluded from qualifying for an automatic overload. They must seek approval from their advising office.
All students who have a minimum of 12 Kent State earned credit hours are eligible for an automatic overload given the criteria above.
Students not meeting the above criteria or requesting more than 21 semester hours in the fall or spring semester (more than 12 hours in all summer terms) will be blocked from registering for an overload unless approval is granted from their advising office.
Students on academic probation may not register for more than 15 hours and may receive a prescription from the dean of the college that they further reduce the hours carried until removed from probation.

Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the appropriate college dean. [back]

COURSE PRIVILEGE FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS

A doctoral student will be allowed, with the consent of the advisor and of the instructor concerned, to enroll in any course offered at Kent State University. [back]

COURSE REPEAT POLICIES

Students may repeat courses taken at Kent State University subject to the following provisions:

Students may repeat a course already passed for additional credit if it is identified as repeatable in the course description. Some academic units place a limit on the total number of credits that may be earned in a given repeatable course. For credit limits on specific courses, students should read the course descriptions or consult their advisor.
Students may repeat for credit any upper-division (30000- and 40000-level) courses they have failed. All grades earned are counted in the cumulative grade point average.
Students may repeat upper-division (30000- and 40000-level) courses already passed with the approval of the academic dean in order to meet specific graduation requirements; however, the hours earned the second time do not, under any circumstances, count toward graduation. All grades earned are counted in the cumulative grade point average.
Students may repeat lower-division (10000- and 20000-level) courses, and the university will use only the highest grade in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average. Lower-division course repeat with recalculation is subject to the following provisions:
1. The course must be repeated at Kent State University.
2. The course must be repeated for a letter grade, including satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U), but not pass/fail.
3. All grades will appear on the official transcript.
4. Only the highest grade received for the course will be used in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
5. Recalculation of the students' cumulative grade point average will occur automatically at the end of the semester in which students complete the repeated course.
6. All eligible courses will be included in the recalculation.
7. Courses taken as part of a completed associate degree may be repeated under this policy.
8. All course repeats for recalculation must be completed before conferral of the student's first bachelor's degree from any college or university.
9. All grades will be counted in determining grade point average for graduation with institutional honors and may also be counted for admission to or progression in specific programs, for admission to graduate programs or for admission to other institutions. These computations are independent of the cumulative grade point average as it appears on the transcript or student grade report.
10. Credit for a repeated course will apply only once toward meeting degree requirements.
11. The university is not obligated to offer courses so that students can repeat them.
12. This policy does not apply to variable content courses that are repeatable for credit, such as special topics courses, individual investigations, practicum, internships, etc.
13. This policy was effective with the spring 2008 semester. [back]

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION (CBE)

Students with demonstrable ability and knowledge in a particular subject area may earn credit in selected courses though Credit-By-Examination (CBE), coordinated by the Registrar's Office. Students who wish to pursue CBE must complete the CBE application to gain appropriate college and departmental permission. The appropriate academic department administers the exam, which may include the completion of additional assignments. The minimum passing standard for CBE is the equivalent of a “C” grade. However, no letter grade, only credit hours, are posted to the academic transcript for CBE.

For the CBE application, per credit hour fee, and a list of available courses, visit the Registrar's Office website. See Credit Testing Eligibility for more regulations on awarding credit through testing. [back]

CREDIT-HOUR REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION

Undergraduate: All students in bachelor's degree programs must satisfactorily earn (with passing grades) a minimum of 121 semester credit hours of coursework to graduate. As part of this requirement, all students must complete minimum 36 semester hours of the Kent Core. Associate degrees are awarded for the successful completion of a minimum of 61 semester credit hours of coursework. They are designed to fulfill two major purposes: to permit students to complete the freshman and sophomore years of a baccalaureate program; or to prepare graduates for immediate employment in a technology field.

Some bachelor's and associate degree programs require more hours than the 121 and 61, respectively, as stated above. Associate degree students who are studying part time should expect to take more than two years to complete their programs.

Graduate: All master's students must satisfactorily complete a minimum 30 semester credit hours applicable toward a master’s degree in order to graduate. Some master's degree programs require more hours.

While the well-prepared doctoral candidate may expect to meet formal course requirements (exclusive of dissertation) for the doctoral program by completing a minimum of two years of full-time work beyond the baccalaureate, departments may require more extensive preparation where needed. In order to qualify for a doctoral degree, students must present a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, or 60 hours beyond the master’s degree. These hours may include registration for coursework, individual investigation or research courses and dissertation. Only work of high quality is approved for doctoral credit. [back]

CREDIT TESTING ELIGIBILITY

The student's college determines eligibility for testing. The following regulations govern credit through testing:

Students may be tested for Credit-By-Examination (CBE) only once for any given course. Students may not attempt a course CBE for which they have previously attempted through CLEP.
New students may take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) before beginning work at Kent State University.
Students who have begun college work are allowed to take CBE only if they are in good standing (i.e., not on probation).
Students may not take CLEP or CBE for any course:
1. In which they have audited
2. In which they are currently enrolled
3. In which they have previously enrolled and earned a grade, including withdrawal (A-F, AU, IN, IP, NF, NR, S, SF, U, W, Y or Z)
In subject fields in which knowledge is sequential or accumulative, students may receive academic credit through CBE only for the single course commensurate with their level of proficiency as established by the examination. Students who already have received credit for one level in such a sequence of courses may not receive academic credit by means of CBE or CLEP for a prior course in that sequence or for a course in a lower sequence.
Students pursuing a baccalaureate may attempt a maximum of 30 hours CLEP, AP and CBE combined. Students who wish to take more than 30 hours may petition their college dean for a waiver of this limitation. Students who have earned more than 30 hours of AP and/or CLEP credit before attending Kent State University will be granted that credit, provided such credit meets normal Kent State standards.
CBE normally is given only during the third through eighth week of each semester. Students approaching graduation must complete all CBE and CLEP credit by at least the semester preceding the semester in which they plan to graduate.
Students who sign up for CBE must take the exam within one calendar year of the date of application. If they do not, they forfeit any fees paid and must reapply to take the exam. [back]

DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

All undergraduate students are required to satisfactorily complete the Destination Kent State: First Year Experience course at any one of Kent State's eight campuses with the following exceptions:

Incoming students who are designated by Kent State admissions as adult students (21 year or older). These students are encouraged to contact the Center for Adults and Veteran Services or a Regional Campus advising office for information regarding the availability of special orientation programs for adult students.
Students who transfer 25 or more semester hour credits from another higher education institution, excluding post-secondary (PSEOP) and dual enrollment credit.

Full-time students are expected to complete the First Year Experience course during their first semester of enrollment. Part-time students are expected to complete the course before they attain sophomore standing (30 semester hours). [back]

DEVELOPMENTAL COURSEWORK

Six courses that may be prescribed or recommended through placement testing—MATH 10006, MATH 10020, MATH 10021, MATH 10022, US 10003 and US 10006—do not generate credit toward graduation. Although these courses will count toward the course load for financial aid and other purposes, hours taken in these courses will be subtracted from the students' total before graduation. Other prescribed courses—including ENG 11001, MATH 10007, MATH 10023 and MATH 10024—do count as credit toward graduation, but toward general elective hours only. None of the prescribed courses may be taken pass/fail. [back]

DISMISSAL

Undergraduate: Students whose academic performance indicates a limited chance of obtaining the minimum grades required for graduation will be subject to dismissal from the university.

The provost may dismiss:

Students on probation if the student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) is within the following ranges*:
1. 16-29 GPA hours: below 1.50 cumulative GPA
2. 30-59 GPA hours: below 1.70 cumulative GPA
3. 60-89 GPA hours: below 1.80 cumulative GPA
4. 90 or more GPA hours: below 1.90 cumulative GPA
A student who fails to make adequate progress toward completion of the program of study (including, but not limited to, excessive complete term withdrawals, course withdrawals or NF/SF grades).

* The provost may choose not to dismiss a student within the stated ranges if circumstances warrant.

The provost will not dismiss a student on probation if any of the following conditions apply to that student:

It is the student's first semester of enrollment at Kent State University (including first-semester freshman or first-semester transfer student).
The student has 15 or less GPA hours at Kent State University.
The student was in good academic standing at the end of the preceding term of enrollment.
The student earned a minimum 2.00 term GPA (unadjusted for recalculation provisions in the course repeat policy).

A student who is dismissed should expect to be away from the university for a minimum 12 consecutive months. A dismissed student may not register for any coursework at any campus of Kent State University. The notation of academic dismissal will be printed on the student's official transcript.

For further information concerning the conditions of probation and dismissal, students should contact their college or campus advising office. See guidelines for dismissal appeals below.

Graduate: Only work of high quality is approved for graduate credit. Graduate students are expected to maintain a 3.0 average GPA in all work attempted at Kent State. A student who fails to maintain a 3.0 average is subject to dismissal. In addition, in order to qualify for graduation, a 3.0 average must be maintained for all graduate coursework. Grades below C (2.0) are not counted toward completion of requirements for any advanced degree, but are counted in evaluating a student’s grade point average. Only graduate course credits count toward a graduate degree.

A graduate student who receives a combination of more than 8 credit hours of B- (2.7) or lower grades, or more than 4 credit hours of grades lower than C (2.0) is subject to dismissal. Dismissal may be recommended by the chair (or director) of the student’s department to the college dean, or the college dean may request the action of the department chair, or action may be recommended by the college dean’s designee.

When a department has determined that the number of in-progress (IP) or incomplete (IN) grades on a student’s record indicates poor progress toward completion of a degree, it may recommend to the college dean dismissal of the student. In certain programs in which professional success depends upon factors other than those measured by normal evaluations in coursework, a department has the right to separate from the program a student who, in the opinion of a duly constituted departmental committee, is not likely to succeed professionally despite earning acceptable grades. Such programs, along with the factors involved, are listed with the college dean. Administrators of these programs will inform the student upon admission of the nature of the assessment and the process by which it is made. A student separated from such a program has the right to appeal the decision. Information on the process of appeal is available in the office of the college dean, appropriate academic offices and student services offices upon request.

In determining a graduate student’s grade point average, all graduate courses attempted by the student while in a Kent State University graduate program are included in the computation. A change by a graduate student from one department or program to another does not eliminate the grades received under the first enrollment, which are computed in the student’s grade point average. Graduate (but not undergraduate) courses taken by the student over and above those required for the student’s program are included in the grade point average. [back]

DISMISSAL APPEALS

A student who is dismissed has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in writing to the college or campus at which the student was enrolled at the time of the dismissal.

The appeal letter must be composed, typed and signed by the student. The appeal letter may be delivered personally or sent by mail, and must include original documentation. Appeal letters also may be sent by fax or as an e-mail attachment from the student's Kent State e-mail address, but must be supplemented by submitting original documentation. Appeal letters for a dismissal made at the end of the fall semester must be received by the Friday before spring semester begins. Appeal letters for a dismissal made at the end of the spring semester must be received by June 15.

Appeals must be based on recent circumstances that were beyond the control of the student. Appeal letters must include the following:

An explanation of the extenuating circumstances, such as personal illness/injury, critical family illness or other situations of sufficient severity that they may have adversely affected academic performance. These circumstances must be documented by providing physician statements or other appropriate official documents.
Proof of consistent satisfactory academic performance prior to the occurrence of the circumstances believed to be the cause of the dismissal. These efforts must be documented by course instructors, and their statements must be submitted on university letterhead or sent from each instructor's Kent State e-mail address. If errors have occurred for one or more reported grades, the course instructor must verify that a grade change has been submitted.
An explanation of why action such as course withdrawal, complete term withdrawal, request for an incomplete grade, etc., was not taken before the end of the semester.
A detailed plan of action for achieving academic success for any future enrollment at Kent State University.
The student's full name, Banner ID number, current and permanent mailing addresses, current and permanent telephone numbers and Kent State e-mail address.

Appeals that do not meet these guidelines will not be reviewed. [back]

DISSERTATION FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE

A dissertation is required of each doctoral candidate in any department offering the doctoral degree. The dissertation topic must be approved by the department and filed with the college dean no later than one semester preceding that in which the candidate expects to receive the degree. Each graduate unit has adopted a procedure for the preparation of a dissertation prospectus. This document will normally include an outline of the parameters of the projected dissertation topic with a statement of the problem to be undertaken, the procedure or methodology to be used in the research, a preliminary review of the literature substantiating the need for the study, and the principle sources of information for the dissertation. The prospectus must be in writing, but an oral presentation may also be required.

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for Dissertation (8xx99) for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter Dissertation II, each semester, including summer, until all requirements for the degree have been met. The IP (in progress) grade is used until the student completes the dissertation at which time all IP grades in dissertation are changed to S (satisfactory) grades. The dissertation must demonstrate that the student has acquired the ability to conduct research in a discriminating and original manner. The dissertation should make a significant enough contribution to the field in which it is written that at least one scholarly article suitable for publication in a professional journal may be derived from it or that the findings of the dissertation would be otherwise publishable.

After the dissertation, typed in legible form, is accepted by the dissertation advisor, it will be read by the student’s dissertation committee, and any recommended revisions will be communicated to the student. Upon completion of the revisions, if any, the student will be required to defend the findings before a committee of graduate faculty members, including the dissertation committee and others chosen by the department and college dean. The responsibility for conducting the examination itself will be that of an impartial moderator selected from a department other than that of the student’s major or minor. The defense of the dissertation is open to the university community. Questioning is restricted to members of the graduate faculty, and the vote of the examining committee will be conducted in private.

After the candidate has passed the oral examination, the doctoral candidates will submit their dissertation in electronic form. The dissertation will also include an abstract of no more than 350 words. Information on the process may be found on the University Libraries' Guidelines for the Preparation of Electronic Theses and Dissertations website. Theses and dissertations must be prepared according to established guidelines. Guidelines for preparation and typing of theses and dissertations are available in the college office.

Dissertations submitted electronically are available through the OhioLINK ETD Center. Individual units may still require submission of a paper copy for their archives. It is the responsibility of the doctoral student to fulfill this requirement.

All dissertations must be published according to a plan provided by ProQuest Information and Learning, Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the purposes of archiving, indexing, and dissemination. All communications and relations between faculty or students and ProQuest shall be carried out only through the Kent State University librarian. Publication of the complete dissertation or significant parts of it through other avenues is expected, but this is not to be used in lieu of the requirement stated herein. [back]

DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT

Students in bachelor's degree programs must complete two diversity courses, one with a domestic (U.S.) focus and one with a global focus. One course must come from the Kent Core; the second may be taken as a second Kent Core, within the major or minor or as a general elective; or, with dean's approval, by completing one semester of study in another country. [back]

DUAL CREDIT

Dual-credit courses offered in high schools through Kent State University must duplicate the identical course offerings delivered on the campuses of Kent State to matriculated students. Courses must be approved for dual-credit status, and credit awarded must be deemed acceptable in transfer by faculty of the appropriate academic department/school of the university. Kent State is responsible for maintaining a dual-credit student's college transcript. All courses will be identified on the college transcript as the regular college-level course. The high school is responsible for maintaining the student's high school transcript. The evaluation of courses when transferring to post-secondary institutions other than Kent State is the purview of the receiving institution.

Program requirements and expectations:

Students enrolled in dual-credit classes must adhere to the dates comparable to those specified on the college campus for registration, drop, withdrawal or refund.
A dual-credit course taught in a high school must be composed only of students who have been admitted to Kent State University and who are registered for the course.
Grading criteria for a dual-credit course must allow faculty the opportunity to award high school only or high school and college credit depending on student performance.
Kent State will provide dual-credit students full access to Kent State libraries and electronic databases, as appropriate, and general academic support services, including academic advising, regardless of whether the course is taken at the high school or the university.
For acceptance in the program, students must provide the following application materials as well as listed admissions criteria:
- Completed written college application
- High school transcripts
- Recommendation from high school faculty and guidance counselor
- Preferred 3.0 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Preferred minimum 23 ACT composite score or minimum 1070 SAT combined score (reading and mathematics) [back]

DUAL DEGREES / DOUBLE MAJOR / MULTIPLE DEGREES

Dual Degrees / Double Major: In certain cases students may be able to complete the requirements for more than one academic major through either a double major or a dual degree program of study. A double major program of study combines two major fields of study within the same degree program. Students completing a double major program of study are awarded a single degree with two majors. Students pursuing a double major program for a bachelor's degree must complete a minimum 121 semester hours.

A dual degree program of study combines two majors from distinct degree programs. Any combination of major fields of study involving undergraduate degree programs in more than one college is a dual degree program even if both degrees bear the same title. Students completing a dual degree program are awarded two distinct degrees. Students pursuing a dual degree program at the baccalaureate level must complete a minimum of 140 total semester hours. Students pursuing concurrent associate degrees must successfully complete all the requirements for both and a minimum of 15 credit hours beyond those required for the primary degree. Because of the similarity in program requirements, the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees may not be earned concurrently; nor may either be awarded as an additional degree when one or the other has been previously conferred.

Certain major combinations are not appropriate and are not permitted by the colleges. Students interested in a double major or dual degree program of study must consult the offices of the appropriate colleges and/or campus to determine whether the desired combination of majors is permitted. Students seeking concurrent associate degrees must be in good academic standing and enrolled officially for a first, or primary, associate degree. If the combination is permitted, the college offices will assist the students in formally declaring the degrees/majors and will provide the students with major sheets for both of the degrees/majors showing the course requirements to be satisfied for both majors. The students must complete all requirements for both degrees/majors.

Students who hold an associate, bachelor's or graduate degree and wish to pursue an associate degree may do so by successfully completing all program and residency requirements, in addition to a minimum 15 semester hours.

Students are required to file a graduation application for each degree/major program of study. Students must officially declare any degree/major in time to meet the graduation application deadline for the semester in which they expect to complete the program of study.

Multiple Degrees: A student may work simultaneously or sequentially on any of the following if the departments involved believe there is good reason for so doing and will admit the student to both programs:

A master's degree and a baccalaureate in two different disciplines
Master's degrees of two designations in one discipline
Master's degrees of one or two designations in two disciplines
Doctorates in two different disciplines
Doctorate in one discipline and a master’s or baccalaureate in another discipline

Persons having a doctorate will not be permitted to work on a second degree from the same department with a different emphasis.

Courses to be double counted shall be determined by the department(s), but in no case may the number of credits exceed 12 credits for the master's degree (except for the special cases listed below) or equivalent of a master’s degree plus 12 credits for the doctorate. The appropriate college dean(s) involved shall be notified of these decisions.

Exceptions to the 12-credit-double-count policy for dual degree and multiple degree programs:

When one of the degrees is the Master of Fine Arts, a two-year degree, the courses to be double counted shall not exceed 26 credits.
Students pursuing the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Nursing degrees may double count a maximum of 28 credits.
Students pursuing the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Library and Information Science degrees may double count a maximum of 28 credits.
Students pursuing the Master of Science degree in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management and the Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication may double count a maximum of 28 credits.
Students pursuing the Master of Science degree in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management and the Master of Library and Information Science degree may double count a maximum of 28 credits.
Students pursuing the Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology and the Master of Library and Information and Information Science degree (Dual Degree MEd/MLIS School Library concentration for both) may double count a maximum 27 credits. [back]

ELIGIBILITY FOR A DOCTORAL DEGREE

The student will ordinarily observe the following procedure in order to be eligible for the doctoral degree:

Indicate the intention to meet specifications of the departments concerned by applying for admission. The college or independent school and the department together will determine acceptability.
Fulfill the credit requirements of the department in which the major work is done.
Fulfill the residence requirements (if any).
Satisfy the language or research tool requirements of the department.
Pass the candidacy (comprehensive) examination in the field of the major subject.
Carry out a suitable scholarly research or creative program.
Write a dissertation that shows high attainment and creativity
Successfully defend the findings of the dissertation in public before a committee of the graduate faculty.
Have registered for a minimum of 90 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, or 60 credits beyond the master’s degree (registration for thesis, dissertation and research may be included in this total). [back]

ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION

The enrollment certification for loan deferments, insurance coverage or any other official certification of enrollment is processed by the Office of the University Registrar. An audited course is not counted for enrollment certification purposes.

Undergraduate Students:

Full-time enrollment: 12+ credit hours
Three-quarter-time enrollment: 9-11 credit hours
Half-time enrollment: 6-8 credit hours
Less-than-half-time enrollment: 1-5 credit hours

Graduate Students:

Full-time enrollment: 8+ credit hours
Three-quarter-time enrollment: 6-7 credit hours
Half-time enrollment: 4-5 credit hours
Less-than-half-time enrollment: 1-3 credit hours

Please note: For summer, this definition may be fulfilled by enrollment in one or more sessions within the summer semester. [back]

EXPLORATORY AND GENERAL MAJORS

Kent State offers the non-degree Exploratory major on all campuses and generalist majors within most colleges to enable undergraduate students to explore academic areas and/or meet minimum program requirements. Baccalaureate-seeking students in these non-degree majors must declare a degree major by the time they have earned 45 semester credit hours at Kent State University. Students needing assistance with selecting a major must consult with an academic advisor. [back]

FORMER KENT STATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Undergraduate: Kent State University students who withdrew from or left the university in good standing, or who left on academic probation and in the interim have not attended another post-secondary institution, do not need to apply for readmission. These students should contact the Office of the University Registrar for current enrollment and registration procedures. Students who have attended another institution since leaving Kent State will be required to apply for admission as transfer students, submit official transcripts and pay the non-refundable application fee. The Center for Adult and Veteran Services provides general advising, information, referrals and assistance for undergraduate students who meet the “adult student” criteria.

Graduate: Kent State University students who withdrew from or left the university in good standing will be required to re-apply for admission and pay the non-refundable application fee.

For information concerning former students who have been dismissed from the university, see the Dismissal and Reinstatement policies in this section of the Catalog. [back]

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) REQUIREMENT

Undergraduate: All undergraduate students graduating from Kent State University must attain a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all coursework taken at Kent State University. Candidates for the Associate of Applied Business and Associate of Applied Science degrees must attain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in the technical courses. If students are required to take additional coursework to raise the GPA in the technical courses to 2.00, the course(s) must be in the technical area and will be selected in consultation with the program advisor and approved prior to registration. Additionally, some degree programs have higher minimum GPA requirements.

Graduate: To be considered “in good standing,” a 3.0 average or better in all graduate and required undergraduate work undertaken at Kent State University should be maintained by graduate students. In order to qualify for graduation, the student must have a 3.0 average in all graduate courses attempted. The grade point average of a student who enlists in the military service after work is begun toward a graduate degree may, at the student’s request upon return from military service, exclude the grades earned in the last semester in which that student is in residence prior to induction. [back]

GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The transcript is an accurate and complete historical record of work attempted at the university. Changes to transcript entries that alter the enrollment history of a student are not to be made.

Academic Grades and Administrative Marks: Student proficiency in coursework is recorded by the following letter grades:

A	(4.00) Denotes "excellent scholarship" for undergraduate students and "superior scholarship" for graduate students
A-	(3.70)
B+	(3.30)
B	(3.00) Denotes "good performance" for undergraduate students and "average performance" for graduate students
B-	(2.70)
C+	(2.30)
C	(2.00) Denotes "fair or average performance" for undergraduate students and "below average performance" for graduate students
C-	(1.70)
D+	(1.30)
D	(1.00) Denotes "poor (unsatisfactory but passing) performance" for undergraduate students and "far below average performance" for graduate students
F	(0.00) Denotes failure
AU	The mark AU denotes that students have registered to audit a course. Students may audit without credit any course subject to space availability and departmental approval. An audited course is not counted as part of the course load, but students must go through registration procedures and pay the normal registration fees. For graduate students, an audited course may not be counted as fulfilling the minimum course load requirements. An instructor may impose whatever attendance requirements deemed necessary upon the students registered for audit. The students must be informed of these requirements at the beginning of the semester. Failure to meet such attendance requirements subjects the students to being withdrawn from the course by the instructor. This will be accomplished by the instructor’s insertion of the mark W for the students on the final grades list.
IN	The administrative mark of IN (Incomplete) may be given to students who are unable to complete the work due to extenuating circumstances. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be currently passing and have completed at least 12 weeks of the semester. Graduate students must be currently earning a C or better grade and are unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and the end of classes. The timeline shall be adjusted appropriate for summer sessions and flexibly scheduled courses. Appropriate documentation is generally required to support the extenuating circumstance. The student must initiate the request for the Incomplete mark from the instructor, and it is the responsibility of the student to arrange to make up the incomplete work. Incomplete grades must be made up within one semester (not including summer sessions) for undergraduate students and one calendar year for graduate students. Instructors are required to complete and submit an Incomplete Mark Form to the department chair at the time grades are assigned. This form includes justification for awarding the Incomplete, describes the work to be completed for the course and specifies the grade to be assigned if the work is not completed (default grade). A copy of the Incomplete Mark Form is provided to the student. Incomplete grades will not be counted in the computation of grade point averages until the work is completed, at which time an appropriate grade will be assigned based on the instructor’s evaluation of the work submitted and a new grade point average computed. Unless the course is completed or an extension is granted, Incomplete grades will automatically lapse to the grade designated on the Incomplete Mark Form at the end of one semester for undergraduate students and at the end of one year for graduate students.
IP	The grade IP (In Progress) may be given to students to indicate that research, individual investigation or similar efforts are in progress and that a final grade will be given when the work is completed. The IP grade can be utilized only in designated courses and is not used in computing grade point averages. For graduate students, an IP grade is used for thesis (6xx99) or dissertation (8xx99) courses during those semesters in which a student is in the process of completing a thesis or dissertation. For courses required for the degree, a final grade must be given before a degree can be granted. The IP grade when given for thesis registration remains a terminal grade if the student changes from a thesis option in the master's degree to another degree option.
NF	The NF (Never Attended – F) grade denotes that students never attended one class session nor did the students formally withdraw from the course. The NF grade will count as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages. In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the NF grade will be changed to a Z grade.
NR	A mark of NR indicates the instructor did not submit a grade.
S	The grade S denotes satisfactory completion of a course in which a regular letter grade is inappropriate. Satisfactory work is interpreted as average or superior attainment. The credit hours are awarded but are not considered in computing grade point averages, but work earning an S grade may be applied toward meeting degree requirements. For graduate students, the S grade, along with the U grade (see below) are the only grades to be used for thesis (6xx99), dissertation (8xx99), workshops and courses involving internships. The instructor intending to use the S and U grades in a course other than these must do so exclusively and only where permitted. The instructor will announce this intent to the particular class at the beginning of the course and note it on the course syllabus.
SF	The SF (Stopped Attending – F) grade denotes that students stopped attending the course and did not formally withdraw. The SF grade will count as an F (zero quality points) in computing grade point averages and must be accompanied by a date of last attendance in the course. Faculty who cannot determine the exact date of last attendance may use the date of the last academic activity in which students participated. SF grades are not appropriate for students who stop attending after the course withdrawal deadline. After that time, grades should be based on student performance in the completion of course requirements. In the case of undergraduate courses taken pass/fail, the SF grade will be changed to a Z grade.
U	The grade U denotes unsatisfactory performance in a course for which a regular grade is inappropriate. Credit hours are recorded as credit hours attempted, and the grade will be counted as an F in computing grade point averages. For graduate students, the U grade, along with the S grade (see above) are the only grades to be used for thesis (6xx99), dissertation (8xx99), workshops and courses involving internships. The instructor intending to use the S and U grades in a course other than these must do so exclusively and only where permitted. The instructor will announce this intent to the particular class at the beginning of the course and note it on the course syllabus.
W	The mark W denotes that a student has withdrawn from the university or from any individual course without evaluation. The W mark is not used in computing grade point averages.
Y	The grade Y denotes a passing grade in undergraduate pass/fail courses or in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are not considered in computing grade point averages.
Z	The grade Z denotes failing performance in undergraduate pass/fail courses or in undergraduate courses in which students have elected the pass/fail grading option. The credit hours are not considered in computing grade point averages.

Grade-to-Grade Change Policy: Once grades are submitted, they are final and will not be changed except in cases of administrative error. Grades will not be changed by allowing the students to do additional work (e.g., retaking exams; redoing papers; submitting extra credit papers, reports, etc.) or by using criteria other than those applied to all students in the class. In the event of a possible administrative error, the students must contact the instructor as soon as possible following the awarding of the grade. If the instructor is not available, the department/school chair should be contacted. Grade appeals for reasons other than administrative error must follow established procedures for student academic complaints. See the Student Academic Complaints (Kent Campus) procedure in the Digest of Rules and Regulations published annually on the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs website, or contact the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs on the Kent Campus or the campus dean's office for the Regional Campuses.

Grade Point Average: Quality points are awarded on the following scale:

Each hour of A equals 4 points
Each hour of A- equals 3.7 points
Each hour of B+ equals 3.3 points
Each hour of B equals 3 points
Each hour of B- equals 2.7 points
Each hour of C+ equals 2.3 points
Each hour of C equals 2 points
Each hour of C- equals 1.7 points
Each hour of D+ equals 1.3 points
Each hour of D equals 1 point
Each hour of F equals 0 points
Each hour of NF equals 0 points
Each hour of SF equals 0 points
Each hour of U equals 0 points

A grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of points earned by the number of quality hours taken and rounded to the nearest hundredth.

As an example, assume a student has completed 30 hours with a grade distribution of 3 hours of A, 3 hours of B, 3 hours of B-, 15 hours of C, 4 hours of D and 2 hours of F.

	Points
3 hours of A at 4 points per hour	12.0
3 hours of B at 3 points per hour	9.0
3 hours of B- at 2.7 points per hour	8.1
15 hours of C at 2 points per hour	30.0
4 hours of D at 1 point per hour	4.0
2 hours of F at 0 points per hour	0.0
Total	63.1

Dividing 63.1 by 30, a grade point average of 2.103 is obtained, which is slightly above a C average. Cumulative averages are computed by dividing the total quality points by the total quality hours. Grades of S, Y and Z are not included in grade point average.

Grade Reports: Final grades are reported at the close of each academic term and become a part of the students' permanent records. Grades are available on FlashFAST.

Midterm Evaluation: A midterm (seventh week) evaluation is completed for all undergraduate freshmen. Midterm results are available to advisors and college/school/campus deans and will be used for counseling purposes when achievement is considered unsatisfactory (i.e., D or F quality). This evaluation will not be included as part of the students' academic transcripts. The midterm evaluation is available to freshmen on FlashFAST. [back]

GRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Applicants are expected to submit evidence of scholarly accomplishment in previous undergraduate and graduate work if undertaken. This may be accomplished in part by having achieved an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 point scale. Some departments may require a higher minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA. At the graduate level, a minimum 3.0 GPA is expected. In all cases, the GPA is only one of several measures used to determine admission. Additional considerations are letters of recommendation, scores on standardized tests and other indices of ability to do graduate-level work. Students with below a 2.75 GPA will be considered for conditional admission on an individual basis. Admission in such cases will depend heavily on other indices of the student’s ability to handle graduate-level work. These might include strong performance on standardized tests, GPA in the major and/or experiences subsequent to matriculation that are clearly indicative of strong academic ability. Evidence of holding a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university must be included.

Students who hold degrees from non-accredited institutions may be admitted under conditions that are determined in each individual case and which ordinarily include the necessity of further undergraduate work.

Grade Point Average Calculation: To be considered for admission to graduate study at Kent State University, students must have official transcripts from each college or university in which 8 or more credit hours were attempted, except for Kent State University, sent to the admitting office. The cumulative GPA is calculated using the final grades from all previous undergraduate and post-undergraduate academic work.

Application Procedures:

Consult this catalog for admission procedures for the college or independent school offering the degree program.
Submit an online application form, non-refundable application fee and required academic credentials to the Division of Graduate Studies, Office of Graduate Admissions, Cartwright Hall.
Submit an application at least six weeks before the start of the semester of first coursework. Some programs may have much earlier deadlines. Check individual departments or schools in this catalog for other deadlines and further information.
Have official transcripts from each college or university previously attended sent to the Division of Graduate Studies, Office of Graduate Admissions, Cartwright Hall. Please consult the instructions contained in the application for admission for submission of official transcripts. Applicants need not submit transcripts of work completed at Kent State University.
Consult this Catalog to determine if any additional supporting materials, such as a standard examination, are needed for admission to the program. Commonly required examinations include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Incomplete application materials will be kept for a period of one year only. After that time materials will be destroyed. Students interested in admission after one year will need to reapply. [back]

GRADUATION

Each of the 10 colleges of Kent State University award one or more undergraduate and graduate degrees at commencement exercises in December, May and August. The graduation requirements for these degrees are outlined in the various college sections of this Catalog.

Undergraduate and graduate students applying for graduation should complete the online graduation application available in their Graduation Planning Tools channel (Student Tools tab) in FlashLine by the published deadlines. The online graduate application is used for all degrees and certificate programs. If students fail to carry out the proper application procedures by the published deadlines (see Academic Calendar), the degree will not be granted until the next graduation date. Associate degrees are conferred at each Regional Campus at the end of the academic term in which all requirements are successfully completed. Application deadlines may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar as well as from the various college and campus offices.

For commencement dates for each campus, see the Academic Calendar in this Catalog.

Application for Graduation: Prospective graduates for degrees and certificates must complete the online application for graduation (available in FlashLine) by the following deadlines:

December Graduation: The application for a bachelor's degree and/or undergraduate certificate must be submitted by the 15th day of the preceding March. The application for an associate degree, graduate degree (master's, post-master's or doctoral) and/or graduate certificate must be submitted by the Friday of the first week of the fall term in which graduation will occur.
May Graduation: The application for a bachelor's degree and/or undergraduate certificate must be submitted by the 15th day of the preceding September. The application for an associate degree, graduate degree (master's, post-master's or doctoral) and/or graduate certificate must be submitted by the Friday of the first week of the spring term in which graduation will occur.
August Graduation: The application for a bachelor's degree and/or undergraduate certificate must be submitted by the 15th day of the preceding December. The application for an associate degree, graduate degree (master's, post-master's or doctoral) and/or graduate certificate must be submitted by the Friday of the first week of the summer term in which graduation will occur.

Failure to adhere to the posted deadlines may result in a late fee of $200. The Late Graduation Application form is accessible in the Student Tools & Courses table in FlashLine. Exceptions to the policies above shall be made only by the respective collegial deans or their appointed representative, based upon unusual circumstances.

Graduation with Institutional Honors—Bachelor's Degrees: Candidates for bachelor's degrees who demonstrate high levels of scholarship throughout their undergraduate years graduate with institutional honors. Graduation with institutional honors is conferred on students who earn a baccalaureate with a GPA of at least:

3.30 cum laude
3.60 magna cum laude
3.80 summa cum laude

Institutional honors are based solely on the GPA earned in all coursework taken at Kent State University, including original grades forgiven and/or recalculated under other policies. A minimum of 60 semester hours must be earned at Kent State University to qualify. For the purposes of computing the final GPA and determining honors awards, the GPA is extended to two decimal places and not rounded up. Honor citations are inscribed on diplomas as follows: cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. Honors candidates will be distinguished at the Commencement ceremony based on all their institutional academic work completed prior to those courses taken during their final term of enrollment.

Graduation with Distinction—Associate Degrees: Candidates for associate degrees who demonstrate high levels of scholarship through their coursework will graduate "with distinction." "With distinction" is awarded when students achieve a minimum 3.50 GPA for all undergraduate coursework at Kent State University. In order for students to be considered for graduation "with distinction" and have it inscribed on their diploma, a minimum 32 credit hours must be completed at Kent State University. The students' unadjusted GPA at the time the associate degree is conferred (which should be unadjusted by the application of the Academic Forgiveness Policy, Course Repeat Policy or Rule for Recalculation of First-Year Grade Point Average) will be used in determining "with distinction."

Posting of Degrees: The integrity of academic transcripts is fundamental to the validity of coursework and degrees certified by the university. Therefore, all student transcript entries (grades and other notations) are finalized when the degree is officially posted to the permanent academic record. Degrees are posted to students' permanent academic records approximately 30 days following the effective date of graduation. [back]

GUEST STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Admission as a guest student enables students to take a limited number of courses for credit. To be admitted in this category, undergraduate students must have graduated from high school, obtained a GED certificate or achieved the equivalent; and graduate students must have earned a bachelor's degree. Guest students typically take courses for job or personal achievement. Students pursuing a degree at another institution may apply as a guest student.

Guest students may remain in this status until no more than 18 semester hours at the undergraduate level or 6 semester hours at the graduate level of Kent State University credit have been attempted. Students cannot earn a degree in this admission status. Guest students who wish to pursue a degree program or continue after 18 semester hours (undergraduate) or 6 semester hours (graduate) have been attempted must apply for regular admission. Credit hours taken in this status may apply to a degree program with the approval of the college dean. Guest students must meet all prerequisites for courses (or obtain permission of the instructor). Graduate guest students must also obtain approval from the corresponding program coordinator. Individuals who have been denied admission to or are under dismissal from Kent State are not eligible for guest student status. Guest students are not eligible for financial aid. [back]

HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Kent State welcomes applications from home-schooled students. Students who are home-schooled may submit an equivalent diploma through a successful General Educational Development (GED) examination and an ACT/SAT* score, or submit the following information for admission consideration:

Written verification from the appropriate school district that the student has been excused from compulsory attendance for home education
ACT or SAT* score.
A portfolio of the student’s work reflecting all secondary coursework completed

Students should complete a program of study that covers the material in the full college preparatory program recommended by the Ohio State Board of Education. Non-Ohio students should submit appropriate supporting documents as required by their home state. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further details.

* Since Kent State Regional Campuses do not require ACT/SAT scores for admission, this requirement may be waived by the appropriate campus. [back]

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Applicants who are not citizens of the United States or currently maintaining immigration status in the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident, Refugee or Asylee must apply as international students. International students who wish to enter Kent State University should allow six months from the date of initial correspondence to the beginning date of classes to complete the application process. This will generally ensure enough time for international applicants to obtain a student visa and make international travel arrangements.

All international applicants (both undergraduate and graduate) must submit application materials to the Office of International Affairs. International students wishing to attend one of the Regional Campuses must apply and be admitted through the Office of International Affairs on the Kent Campus. All enrolled international students must apply and pay for the student group accident and health insurance policy provided by the university. Information about the student group accident and health insurance policy is available from University Health Services.

See the Transient Student Policy in this section for international students desiring transient status at Kent State. [back]

KENT CORE (GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT)

Students in bachelor's, the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degree programs must complete a minimum 36 credit hours of the Kent Core in six categories: Composition (6 credits), Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3 credits), Humanities and Fine Arts (9 credits), Social Sciences (6 credits), Basic Sciences (6-7 credits) and Additional (6 credits). Students in the Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Applied Business degree programs are expected to choose their general studies courses from the Kent Core. All exceptions must be approved by the students' academic advisor. Students in other associate degree programs who intend to earn a bachelor's degree also will be expected to fulfill this requirement. Individual programs and colleges may have modified these requirements, so it is necessary to review the specific Kent Core hour and course expectations described in in the individual program requirements. The availability of specific Kent Core courses varies by campus. No Kent Core course may be taken pass/fail. [back]

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

All students must demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written English, which is the language of graduate study at Kent State. Judgment of such competence rests with the appropriate major department. Deficiency in English is cause for dismissal from any graduate program.

There is no universal foreign language or research tool requirement. Individual departments or discipline areas may have specific requirements. Students should consult their individual departments. The appropriate languages are determined by the student’s major department. Language requirements (if any) must be completed before doctoral students are admitted to candidacy. Special arrangements for examinations in other languages must be made by the student’s major department in consultation with the chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies. Where required, the language examination used to establish a student’s language proficiency is determined by the student’s department. The examination may be a departmentally designed and administered test. Dates for departmentally administered tests are set by the department.

A series of courses has been instituted in French and German to develop “reading” proficiency in these languages. “Reading” proficiency in a foreign language is demonstrated when the student completes one of the following sequences with a minimum B (3.0) grade in each course of the sequence. Credit hours earned in this language sequence are not applicable toward the completion of the hour requirement in a student’s graduate program and do not count toward the minimum 8-credit-hour semester load required.

FR 63201 Reading French for Graduate Students and FR 63202 Reading French for Graduate Students (Humanities/Social Sciences)
GER 61901 Reading German for Graduate Students and GER 61902 Reading German for Graduate Students [back]

MILITARY CREDIT

Defense Activity For Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) and Service Examinations—Advanced-standing credit is awarded for DANTES courses and for some armed forces service experiences on the basis of recommendations provided by the Commission on Accreditation of Services of the American Council of Education.

Advanced-standing credit is awarded for some experiences in basic training that are equivalent to some beginning physical education courses at Kent State University. Credit is awarded on the basis of recommendations from the School of Health Sciences.

In order for credit to be granted in any of the above areas, a transcript or certificate of completion or a veterans DD 214 form is required. In addition, Kent State reserves the right to set the percentile score that is necessary for satisfactory performance in a course and for granting of credit. Credit will not be given for duplicate work taken through any of these agencies. Information regarding the standards for satisfactory performance may be obtained upon request from Kent State University's Transfer Center, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001. [back]

NON-DEGREE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Admission as a special non-degree student enables students to take a limited number of courses for credit (either full time or part time). Students in this category are generally not seeking a degree, but wish to take courses for job achievement, personal enrichment, intellectual curiosity or other personal reasons. Special non-degree students may apply to Kent State for any semester through the Office of Admissions. Undergraduate adult students may apply through the Center for Adult and Veteran Services. A non-refundable application fee is required. Admission is based on the same criteria detailed above for undergraduate, graduate or transfer students, whichever is appropriate.

Undergraduate special non-degree students may remain in this special status for one academic year or until a maximum of 45 semester hours of credit is earned. Should special non-degree students wish to pursue a degree program, they may, prior to or upon earning 45 semester hours, apply to any undergraduate division of the university. Admission to a degree program, however, is based upon the admissions requirements established by each academic department or school.

Graduate non-degree students must have official transcripts from each college or university previously attended (except Kent State University) sent to the Division of Graduate Studies, Office of Graduate Admissions, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001. They should submit the application a least six weeks prior to the start of the semester in which they plan to begin their work. Application deadlines vary across programs. Applicants should check individual departments or schools for deadlines and further information.

Students who are taking graduate certificate programs should apply as a non-degree student, unless they are already in a concurrent degree program. Maximum 12 semester hours of such credit may be petitioned to satisfy requirements of a degree program. Such a petition must receive approval of the department/school and the college dean. Note that only 6 semester credit hours can be transferred in some departments/schools graduate programs. Non-degree students may not transfer credit earned at another university.

Persons who have earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution may be admitted as graduate non-degree students, subject to departmental approval, after making application and filing evidence of such degree with the appropriate college or independent school.

In order to retain active status, graduate non-degree students must register for coursework within two years after the admission date. Admission of students who do not register within two years will be inactivated. Reapplication must be made if the students desire to register for coursework at this time. Once registered, graduate non-degree students may continue to take courses for six years. Six years after the first registration, non-degree students will be inactivated and must reapply for admission if continued registration in graduate coursework at Kent State University is desired. Anyone who has been denied admission to graduate studies, or is under dismissal from the University, is not eligible for graduate non-degree student status.

All fees, deadlines and performance standards for degree students apply to non-degree students. [back]

ORIENTATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

All new teaching assistants are required to attend and participate in the university's Graduate Student Orientation program prior to the beginning of the semester. The program is also open to all new graduate students and current graduate students with new teaching responsibilities. Departments may also require attendance at departmental orientation meetings. [back]

PASS/FAIL GRADE

Undergraduate students may elect to take certain courses on a pass/fail basis. The purpose of this option is to provide an opportunity for the exploration of a broader range of coursework than is normally included in specific and distributive degree requirements. Students considering this option should be aware that some institutions of higher education do not accept transfer credit taken on a pass/fail basis. In addition, most graduate and professional schools prefer that pass/fail credit be kept to a minimum.

Students electing to take courses under the pass/fail option should consult their advisor for specific instructions and registration procedures. Conditions governing the acceptability of coursework that pertains to all students are:

The students must be in good standing. Transfer students admitted on probation and students on academic probation with less than a 2.00 GPA may not elect the pass/fail option.
Only one course per semester may be taken under the pass/fail option.
The pass/fail option may be used only for non-specific electives; this option is designed to allow students to explore coursework outside their required courses.
Courses listed as available to meet the Kent Core may not be taken pass/fail.
Courses that may be prescribed or recommended through placement testing may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Those courses are ENG 11001, MATH 10020, MATH 10021, MATH 10022, MATH 10023, MATH 10024, US 10003 and US 10006.
Excluded from the pass/fail option are the following:
1. All courses in students’ major department or school
2. All courses used to meet requirements in students’ major, minor, field of concentration, supporting area or certification program
3. All courses used to meet the Kent Core and college general requirements
A maximum of 12 hours of pass/fail credit (combined Y-Pass and Z-Fail grades) may be attempted. Courses regularly graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) are not counted in this 12-hour maximum; experimental courses that are Y/Z graded are included in the 12-hour limit.
Instructors will not be informed of students’ election of the pass/fail option. Regular letter grades of A, B, C and D that are reported by the instructor will be converted to a Pass (Y); letter grades of F, NF (Never Attended–Fail) and SF (Stopped Attending–Fail) will be converted to a Fail (Z) grade.
Pass/fail grades will not be used in computing grade point averages.
Students changing majors will not have “pass” grades changed to regular grades if they have pass/fail credit in that area. The “pass” grades will stand, but all further courses in the program must be for regular grading.
No change of pass/fail enrollment status is permitted after the final day of formal registration.

Students should contact their college, department, school or Regional Campuses office for clarification of the pass/fail option and for application of that option to their particular programs. [back]

PLACEMENT TESTING

All entering freshman students are expected to complete placement testing online before attending Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration. Placement testing is offered in mathematics, foreign language and general chemistry. Students are placed for writing and academic skills coursework based on ACT or SAT scores submitted during the admissions process. Any student who does not have an ACT or SAT score will take the COMPASS placement test on campus.

During Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration, students meet with an academic advisor, review placement assessment results and register for the appropriate courses. Students transferring to Kent State University will work with an advisor to determine the placement assessments they should complete before registering for coursework.

Writing: All programs require successful completion of the basic college writing sequence, which consists of ENG 11011 and 21011 College Writing I and II (or Honors equivalent). Placement into the appropriate starting course in the sequence is determined by proficiency as established by ACT English or SAT verbal scores.
Foreign Languages: The term “native language” refers to the language of students who have been born, raised and educated in another culture and who can be expected to use that language not only easily but accurately as well. “First language” refers to the language of students who may have been born and spent their early years abroad or who have been raised in a particular ethnic community in this country; while they may speak the language with some ease, a lack of consistent formal training limits the accuracy of their usage. A student with a native language other than English may not register for or receive credit in coursework on the elementary or intermediate level in that language or a closely related one as determined by the chair of the appropriate department. Such students may, however, receive credit for coursework successfully completed above the Intermediate II level. Students with a first (not native) language other than English may be permitted to enroll in, and receive credit for, coursework on the elementary and/or intermediate level. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the chairperson of the appropriate department after evaluation of the student’s skills in that language. All students should begin foreign language study at the appropriate level of proficiency, which may be established in one of several ways: CLEP examination, Kent State University’s Credit-By-Examination program, proficiency examination or a placement test. In cases of languages for which no examiner or examination is available, proficiency can be established (no credit awarded) through appropriate documentation of school coursework in the native land and language. Credit hours exempted by any of these means still are required for graduation but may be applied toward coursework in the student’s major or minor or as electives. New first-year students will access WebCape on the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies website. Current and new transfer students should contact the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies for assistance with placement in all foreign language coursework.
Mathematics: All new first-year students will take the ALEKS placement assessment online prior to Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration. Students will receive information via mail regarding the availability of testing. Upon completion of the ALEKS placement assessment, students are encouraged to complete a Learning Module that is offered free of charge. The Learning Module will assist students in increasing their knowledge and possibly result in placement in a higher level course. Students, when they attend Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration, will meet with an academic advisor to discuss the results of the ALEKS assessment and register for the appropriate course. [back]

POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTION PROGRAM (PSEOP)

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program (PSEOP), offered through Undergraduate Studies, is designed for high school students wishing to take university courses prior to graduating from high school. It is offered on each Kent State campus. PSEOP students who wish to continue college coursework at Kent State University after high school graduation should apply for admission as a new freshman during the fall of their senior year of high school. Applying early as a new freshman gives a PSEOP student consideration for on-campus housing, financial aid, freshman scholarships and orientation information. [back]

POST-UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Those who have received a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university other than Kent State University and who wish to take undergraduate courses at Kent State may apply as post-undergraduate students. Kent State graduates who have taken coursework elsewhere since leaving Kent State are also considered post-undergraduates. Baccalaureate graduates of Kent State University who have not attempted subsequent college work do not need to reapply to the university but do need to declare their intent to the Office of the University Registrar. Typically, post-undergraduate students take undergraduate courses to pursue an additional baccalaureate, to prepare for graduate school or to enrich themselves.

A post-undergraduate application form is available online on the Admissions website. Kent State requires a non-refundable application fee and an official transcript from the college or university where the baccalaureate was earned. Students seeking a second undergraduate degree must also submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. [back]

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION FOR MASTER'S DEGREE

In some departments all graduate students are required to take a qualifying examination. Each student should inquire of the major department whether such an examination is required and when it should be taken. The student is responsible for making the arrangements for taking the examination. Students working for a degree requiring a thesis may have their thesis topic approved as soon as they pass the qualifying examination. [back]

REGISTRATION

Only students who have been formally admitted to Kent State University may register for coursework and pay the appropriate fees. An official registration is a record of the students’ approved schedule of classes maintained online in the university’s student information system, Banner. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published university deadlines should not attend classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Students are responsible for their schedules and have the ultimate responsibility to confirm the accuracy frequently during the semester before posted deadline dates. Allowing a member of the university staff to make schedule changes does not relieve the student of his or her responsibilities.

Students register for courses online through FlashFAST (log onto FlashLine and click on the Student Tools and Courses tab). New freshmen register through the Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration program. Refer to the Office of the University Registrar website for registration information, instructions, dates, deadlines and procedures.

Kent State University reserves the right to change the time of a course if it is deemed necessary, and it reserves the right to drop any course from the Schedule of Classes if there is insufficient student demand or if resources are unavailable to offer the course. Students interested in registering at a Regional Campus should check with the campus in which they are interested for specific dates, times and procedures involving registration transactions (initial registrations, schedule adjustments, course withdrawals, etc.) must be completed by the published deadlines found on the appropriate term calendar on the University Registrar website.

Flexibly Scheduled Course Sections: Some courses are offered as flexibly scheduled sections, that is, the section does not meet for the full semester. Eligibility for processing registration transactions for these courses (adding, dropping or withdrawing) is determined by the beginning and ending dates of the section. See the University Registrar website for deadlines.

Late Registration: Students who are not officially enrolled for any coursework (i.e., registered and have paid fees) as of the first day of classes for the semester will have to process a late registration using FlashFAST. All late registrations must be completed prior to the beginning of the third week of classes for fall and spring semesters.* If class beginning and/or ending dates are other than the regular session dates for a full term, deadlines may be different than noted above. For determining deadlines for these flexibly scheduled classes, visit the University Registrar website. Late registrations will not be accepted after the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters.*

A late registration fee will be assessed for any registration processed after the first week of classes for fall and spring semesters.* A non-payment fee will be assessed for registrations not paid by the end of the second week of classes. Visit the Office of the Bursar website for information on students’ fees.

Schedule Adjustments: In addition to the schedule adjustments during the registration periods, the following schedule adjustments may be permitted through the first two weeks of the semester.*

Adding a course/section.
Dropping a course/section.
Changing a section (same course but different time or credit hours).
Changing from graded to pass/fail or audit status.
Changing from pass/fail or audit to graded status.

Schedule adjustments are permitted as outlined on the University Registrar website. There are no processing fees required for schedule adjustments.

Course adding is permitted through the second week of the semester, on a space-available basis, using FlashFAST.
Withdrawal from any or all courses is permitted through the 10th week of the semester (or the prorated deadline for flexibly scheduled sections). After that time, students are considered to be committed to all remaining courses and must complete them. If students are unable to complete the semester because of extreme circumstances that first occur after the deadline, students should consult their college or campus dean’s office. Any course withdrawal(s) processed after the second week of the semester will appear on the students’ academic record with a grade of W.*
If class beginning and/or ending dates are other than the regular session dates for a full term, deadlines may be different than noted above. See the University Registrar website for deadlines.
Any applicable refund (policy published on the Bursar's website) is determined by the date the transaction is processed on FlashFAST.

Registration Cancellation: To receive a full refund of tuition, students who register and decide not to attend the university must cancel their registration as early as possible and no later than the end of the first week of classes.* This may be accomplished by the student dropping all courses via FlashFAST during registration periods. Any paid registration not canceled by the end of the first week of classes will be subject to the refund policy published on the Bursar's website. Any applicable refund is determined by the date the transaction is processed in the student information system.

* Please refer to the Registrar's summer term calendar for summer deadlines. [back]

REGISTRATION — FULL AND PART TIME

For student financial aid purposes, full-time undergraduate student status is defined as registered for at least 12 credit hours in one semester. Undergraduate students wanting to registering for more than 18 credit hours in fall or spring semester may be eligible for an approved course overload, see the Course Overload Policy, above, for more information.

A full-time graduate student is one registered for 8 to 16 hours in any one semester, with 16 hours being the maximum number that may be carried per semester. A graduate student who has entered into candidacy and is within the university’s maximum time and credit hour limits for completion of the degree may carry a program of one or more graduate-level credits involving research (Dissertation II) under the direction of the candidate's dissertation advisor, and will be considered as full time.

A part-time undergraduate student is taking less than 12 credit hours in one semester. A part-time graduate student is one taking less than 8 hours per semester. Persons doing graduate work while engaged in a full-time, on-campus position should attempt to limit themselves to one course. Off-campus work is governed by the same rules that apply to work on campus.

For a comprehensive breakdown of full-time and part-time status for both undergraduate and graduate students, see the Enrollment Certification section on this page. [back]

REINSTATEMENT

Undergraduate: Reinstatement after dismissal from Kent State University is neither automatic nor guaranteed. A student may be reinstated only if the student provides convincing evidence of probable academic success if permitted to return to the university. A dismissed student who has previously accumulated a substantial number of credit hours and/or an excessively low GPA should expect that reinstatement is not likely to be approved. For programs with selective admission requirements, specified certification standards or additional program and graduation requirements, reinstatement may be impossible.

Application for reinstatement after the required period of time away from the university should be to the dean of the college or Regional Campus that houses the major program the student wishes to enter. The application should include convincing evidence of the student's motivation to continue and of the student's specific efforts during the period of dismissal to eliminate previous weaknesses. After evaluating the application for reinstatement and all supporting materials, the dean will inform the student of the reinstatement decision.

A student who is reinstated is automatically placed on probation until good academic standing (minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA) is attained. Academic requirements will be determined by the Catalog-in-force at the time the student re-enrolls at the university. If a student under dismissal intends to enroll in coursework elsewhere before applying for reinstatement to Kent State University, advising should first be obtained from the appropriate college or campus advising office. Coursework taken elsewhere may not be applicable to specified Kent State University degree programs, and enrollment may affect the student's potential use of the Academic Forgiveness Policy or limit the the advantages of recalculation provisions in the university's Course Repeat Policy. For further information concerning reinstatement, students should consult their college or campus advising office.

Graduate: A graduate student who has been dismissed from a graduate program normally may not be reinstated for work in the student’s former program, or readmitted in any other program or coursework. However, after one year as a dismissed student, application for reinstatement or readmission may be made based upon evidence that former academic weaknesses have been appropriately addressed. If the pertinent department and the college dean agree that another opportunity should be provided, conditional admission will be granted. [back]

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

Undergraduate: Residence is defined as academic credit earned at Kent State University. In this context, residence does not refer to whether a student lives on campus; it refers to the hours required to earn an undergraduate degree from Kent State University. Students must complete a minimum of 30 passed hours in residence for a baccalaureate (of which 9 passed hours must be at the upper division [30000-40000] level in the major); a minimum of 15 passed hours in residence for an associate degree. Passed hours comprise graded coursework, including those receiving an S (satisfactory) or Y (pass) grade. Information on specific degree requirements may be obtained in the college section of this catalog. Kent State study-abroad and study-away programs that count toward a student’s Kent State University hours may be taken as part of the residence requirement.

Credit earned by means of transfer courses does not count toward residence. Transient study will not count toward the hours of residence, but it will not invalidate residence requirements in progress. Students eligible to take transient coursework are discouraged from taking these credits during their last semester because of the time necessary to receive and process transcripts, which may delay clearing the student for graduation. Under unusual circumstances, students may request a minor modification of this requirement by contacting their college prior to registration elsewhere.

Graduate: Residence requirements are determined by the graduate departments. Please consult the appropriate department as to its residence requirement for the degree. [back]

SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT

Pursuant to Ohio Law, House Bill 845, all Ohio resident male students between the ages of 18 and 26 not registered with Selective Service must file a statement of Selective Service registration with the Office of the University Registrar. If students have not already registered with Selective Service, they will be contacted regarding their non-compliant status. Failure to comply will result in the assessment of nonresident tuition fees to their account and the cancellation of all state-based financial aid. Further questions may be directed to the Office of the University Registrar. [back]

SEMESTER SYSTEM

The academic year at Kent State University consists of two semesters—fall and spring—each approximately 15 weeks in length. The normal undergraduate program is designed to be completed in four academic years, or eight semesters. In addition, the university conducts four sessions during the summer term: one three-week intersession, two five-week sessions and one eight-week session.

Each hour of coursework is called a “semester hour,” as distinguished from the quarter system used at some other universities and colleges. An academic year under that system consists of three 10-week quarters, and one hour of coursework is called a “quarter-hour.”

One quarter-hour of work equals two-thirds of a semester hour; one semester hour equals one and one-half quarter-hours. A transfer student with a number of quarter-hour credits would multiply that number by two-thirds to determine the equivalent semester hour credits at Kent State University. For example, a student with 48 quarter-hours would receive 32 semester hours of transfer credit, providing the previous work meets university academic standards. [back]

STUDENT CONDUCT

The Kent State University Code of Student Conduct applies to both graduate and undergraduate students. Students are subject to dismissal or suspension for violations of the code.

Violations that may result in academic dismissal include furnishing false or incomplete information to the university with intent to deceive or forge, alter or misuse university documents or other official documents that serve as the basis for admission and graduation. Forgery or alteration of these documents may result in the revocation of a graduate degree or certificate.

It is the policy of Kent State University that:

Students are to perform their own academic work according to the standards set by faculty members, departments, schools and colleges of the university.
Cheating and plagiarism constitute a fraudulent misrepresentation for which no credit can be given and for which appropriate sanctions are warranted and will be applied.

For additional information, please visit the Office of Student Conduct website. [back]

THESIS FOR MASTER'S DEGREE

The writing of an acceptable thesis is mandatory in certain master's degree programs. The thesis topic must be approved by the department and filed with the college dean no later than the semester preceding that in which the candidate expects to receive the degree. The thesis topic should be one that will further the student’s educational development by developing research or other skills that will help the student keep abreast of the field and enable the student to pursue independent work. The thesis topic is formulated by the student in consultation with the advisor and submitted to the department for approval according to normal departmental procedures.

The thesis must be completed and in the hands of the examining committee no later than eight weeks before commencement. Some departments may demand an earlier deadline. After the thesis has been accepted by the examining committee and after the candidate has passed the oral examination (if required by the major department).

In some departments, an oral examination, open to the university community, may be required of candidates writing a thesis. When the thesis has been accepted by a student’s advisor, the department will arrange for the oral examination. The college dean will be kept informed of the time and place of the examination and the composition of the examining committee. The results of the examination will be sent to the college dean for approval. This examination is directed primarily toward the thesis but may contain other topics with which the committee feels the candidate should be familiar. The committee usually consists of three to five graduate faculty members, the majority of whom must be associated with the student’s program.

The master's candidates submit their thesis in electronic form. Information on the process may be found on the University Libraries electronic thesis or dissertation (ETD) website. Theses are submitted electronically through the OhioLINK ETD Center, where they are made publicly available. Individual units may still require submission of a paper copy for their archives. It is the responsibility of the master’s student to fulfill this requirement.

Each student writing a thesis is required to register continuously for Thesis I (6xx99) for a total of 6 credits. A student who has completed the required 6 hours of Thesis I is expected thereafter to register continuously for Thesis II (6xx99) each semester, including summer, until all degree requirements are met. No more than 6 hours of Thesis I credit may be counted toward completion of degree requirements.

The student should make certain that the topic has been approved and must register for thesis writing no later than the last semester the student is in residence. Grades of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) are used. [back]

TIME LIMITS FOR GRADUATE DEGREES

Graduate students must register for courses at Kent State University within two years after the students’ admission date to retain active status. Failing to do so, students must reapply, and all requirements in effect at the time of reapplication must be met. If students are unable to begin formal coursework during the term for which admission was originally granted, they must maintain current demographic information and academic transcripts at the admitting office at Kent State University and indicate the term in which they will register.

Master's degree students will normally complete work within six calendar years after the students' first graduate registration at Kent State University. Any credit being transferred for meeting degree requirements should also have been earned within the six-year period. Departments with time limits that vary from these norms will notify their students in writing.

It is expected that the doctoral degree students entering Kent State with a baccalaureate will complete the degree in no more than 10 years. Normally, doctoral degree students entering with a master’s degree will complete the degree in no more than nine years. Students proceeding from the baccalaureate will normally pass the candidacy examination within five years, and students already possessing a master’s degree will pass the candidacy examination within four calendar years of the first graduate registration at Kent State University. A doctoral candidate is expected to satisfactorily complete the dissertation and pass the final oral examination within five calendar years after having passed the candidacy examination. Individual disciplines may have shorter time limits, and specific program descriptions should be consulted.

When an extension of any of these time limits seems to be necessary and proper, the student and advisor will petition the student’s department for an extension. The extension may be denied, in which case the student will be dismissed, or it may be granted with qualification. The student, advisor and college dean must be informed of the decision in writing. If the extension exceeds one year, the approval of the college dean is required. Requests for time extensions exceeding one year must be submitted to the college dean with evidence that the degree candidate is current in his/her field of study.

Upon receiving their graduate degree, students are inactivated and are no longer eligible to register for courses at Kent State University. If students wish to continue their studies at Kent State, they will need to reapply to the appropriate academic unit and be accepted for another graduate degree program or as a special non-degree student. [back]

TRANSFER CREDIT EVALUATION OF UNDERGRADUATE COURSEWORK

An official evaluation of transfer credit will not be completed until undergraduate students have been admitted to the university and have submitted official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions previously attended. Generally, only those non-remedial courses in which students have earned a minimum C (2.00) grade at an accredited school (as determined by the Transfer Center) will be considered for transfer. However, transfer credit earned fall 2005 and later from a regionally accredited college or university in Ohio and earned fall 2010 and later from a regionally accredited, or international equivalent, college or university outside Ohio will be awarded for all non-remedial courses in which students have earned a minimum D (1.00) grade. Effective fall 2010, upper-division and lower-division credits are awarded for transfer based upon the level of course to which they are equated at Kent State. Once the Transfer Center has determined which courses are transferable, the college office that houses the student’s major determines the applicability of these courses toward the desired degree. Some majors may require students to earn higher grades in specific courses or requirements. Students transferring to these majors will be held to the required grade and GPA standards.

Students who have attended schools that are not regionally accredited or that are not candidates for such accreditation are not granted credit by the Transfer Center for work completed there. The students’ college office, however, may grant such credit at its discretion. Although the evaluation of a student’s performance at a non-accredited institution is considered in the admissions decision, any work completed at an accredited institution takes precedence.

Kent State accepts a maximum of 11 semester hours (or 16 quarter hours) of correspondence work from an accredited institution. This work does not count toward the final year of required work in residence.

Transfer Credit Appeals Process: Students must submit, in writing, a letter of appeal regarding their transfer credit to the Kent State University Transfer Center. Upon recommendation by the Transfer Review Committee, students will be notified of the outcome, in writing by the Transfer Center. [back]

TRANSFER STUDENT ADMISSIONS – GRADUATE

A maximum of 12 semester credits hours from accredited institutions offering the master's degree may be accepted for transfer towards a master's degree. A master’s degree and 12 semester credit hours (or maximum 44 semester hours of graduate credit) from accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer towards a doctoral degree.

In both instances, the following must occur:

Graduate credit was received from that institution.
The work was of B (3.0) grade or better quality
The work fits into the student’s program at Kent State
Credit is less than six years old for a master's degree and less than nine years old for a doctorate at the time the degree is conferred at Kent State.
An official transcript with an accompanying explanatory letter is filed in the department.
The student’s advisor, department graduate committee and college dean approve.

An “accredited” institution is one that is approved or accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency (e.g., North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) for graduate-level work. [back]

TRANSFER STUDENT ADMISSIONS – UNDERGRADUATE

Persons who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students.

Application Procedures: Prospective transfer students are encouraged to apply before their junior year in college. Students applying just prior to, or after, the junior year must declare a major and a minor (if required) and should consult with the appropriate academic division concerning the suitability of their preparation for their major.

Required Credentials: To complete their application, transfer students must submit the following to the Admissions Office:

A transfer application form and a non-refundable application fee.
An official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. These transcripts must be sent directly from the previous institutions to the Admissions Office, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001.
A final high school transcript from the following students:
1. Applicants with fewer than 12 semester hours of non-remedial credit earned at other colleges or universities.
2. Applicants who, for special reasons, are asked by the Admissions Office to submit a high school transcript.
Official results of the ACT or the SAT. Test results are not required of the following applicants:
1. Are 21 or older at the time of their first enrollment.
2. Have successfully completed 12 or more semester credit hours of non-remedial college coursework.
3. Have graduated from high school three or more years prior to application.
Verification of high school graduation for financial aid purposes.

An interview may, in some cases, also be required by the Admissions Office.

It is required that applicants list on the application each institution attended after high school, whether or not credit was earned, and forward separate transcripts from each of these institutions. Questions regarding these requirements should be directed to the Admissions Office prior to application. Failure to comply with these requirements represents falsification of the application and will result in appropriate disciplinary action.

Admission Requirements: Generally, transfer applicants who have taken at least 12 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 as computed by Kent State University (on a scale of 4.00) may be admitted to the university. Applicants who have taken fewer than 12 semester hours will be evaluated on both their collegiate and high school records. Applicants who have been dismissed from another college or university will not be considered for admission unless the students are eligible to return to that previous institution, have been out of college at least 12 consecutive months since the dismissal, or have completed at least 12 semester hours of credit at another institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better (on a scale of 4.00).

Selective Admissions: Transfer students are not directly admitted into selective programs unless they meet specific requirements beyond those for acceptance to Kent State. Individual requirements for these programs are listed in this Catalog. Students interested in these selective admissions areas should apply one year prior to the date of anticipated enrollment. Specific questions about these areas can be directed to the Admissions Office or the individual departments/schools.

Application Deadlines: Transfer applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application helps ensure early consideration for course registration, residence hall preference and financial aid. Therefore, the best time to apply is at least six months prior to anticipated enrollment. The admissions application deadline for Architecture (for both summer and fall) is May 1.

An admission to Kent State University is valid only for the specific term to which the students were first admitted. Students who do not enroll in the term to which they were admitted must submit a new application. The Admissions Office will then determine the students’ admissibility for that term. [back]

TRANSCRIPTS

Copies of a student’s academic transcript are available, at no charge, by requesting them in one of the following ways:

Appearing in person with photo ID at the Office of the University Registrar Service Counter, Room 108, Schwartz Center
Mailing a request to Office of the University Registrar, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001
1. Provide the following information: current name and address, any former name(s), Kent State University ID number or social security number, dates of attendance, campus(es) attended, address(es) where the transcripts are to be mailed and written signature.
Logging onto FlashLine and click on the Student Tools and Courses tab. Current students can view an unofficial version of their transcripts in the Academic Profile box on the Student Tools and Courses tab.

Transcripts will be processed upon receipt and will be mailed within two business days. Please allow extra processing time at the beginning and ending of each semester. For additional information on ordering transcripts, please refer to the University Registrar website. All financial obligations to Kent State University must be satisfied before a transcript is released. [back]

TRANSIENT STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Students pursuing a degree at another institution may apply as transient students to Kent State. Such students must be in good standing. Transient undergraduate students must possess a minimum 2.00 (on a scale of 4.00) GPA to be eligible for admission. The transient permission form must be certified in writing by the registrar or college dean of the institution where the students are enrolled. Graduate students may obtain a Transient Student Application Form on the Graduate Studies forms website. Transient status is for one semester only. Students wishing to attend more than one semester must reapply. Returning transient students must be in good academic standing at Kent State. A non-refundable transient student fee will be assessed for each transient admission. An ID card may be obtained through the FLASHcard Office in the Kent Student Center.

Transient International Visiting Graduate Students: Students who are in good standing in a graduate degree program at a university abroad may be admitted as transient students at Kent State University to take coursework that may apply to their degree program.

Steps for approval:

Completion of the International Transient Visiting Graduate Form and processing through the Office of International Admissions Office, 106 Van Campen Hall.
Submission of a request letter from the advisor at the home institution certifying that the student is in good standing, and a letter of acceptance from a Kent State faculty member.
Approval by the department/school graduate program committee and by the college dean.

International transient students are allowed to work using Kent State facilities for maximum 12 months. Students may also register for research hours or for regular courses not to exceed a total of 12 credit hours over the visiting period. Tuition will be paid by students' home institution or by a Kent State grant. Students will be identified as full-time. [back]

TRANSIENT WORK AT ANOTHER UNIVERSITY

Kent State University students who wish to take coursework at another accredited institution of higher education must receive the prior approval of the academic dean of the appropriate unit if the student intends to apply this coursework toward the Kent State University degree program. Transient work by students who are on probation, dismissed or in the last 30 hours of a degree program may be restricted by the students' college. All credits granted for transient work will be translated into semester hours. Grades received for transient work are not transferred; only credit hours are transferred. Generally, credit for non-remedial courses in which students have earned a minimum C (2.0) grade at an accredited school (as determined by the Transfer Center) will be considered for transfer. However, transfer credit earned fall 2005 and later from a regionally accredited college or university in Ohio and earned fall 2010 and later from a regionally accredited, or international equivalent, college or university outside Ohio will be awarded for all non-remedial courses in which students have earned a minimum D (1.00) grade.

No more than 18 semester hours of transient work may be approved. Approvals for transient attendance are valid for one term only (quarter, semester, etc.) at other institutions and are subject to all restrictions of the dean of their college. [back]

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Students desiring admission to an undergraduate division of the university should submit the appropriate application materials to the Admissions Office. Students should arrange to have all necessary high school and college transcripts sent directly to the Admissions Office from each institution previously attended. All credentials submitted for admission become the property of the university and are not returnable or transferable. The university reserves the right to change, without notice, any admissions procedures described in this Catalog.

Freshmen Students: Students who have not attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school should apply to be admitted as freshmen.

Application Procedures: Prospective freshman students can apply by submitting an electronic application form, application fee and required academic credentials to the Admissions Office. Students can submit an electronic application on the Admissions Office website or call the office at 330-672-2444 for a paper form.

The Admissions Office must receive a non-refundable application fee and a high school transcript before processing the application. A personal interview is not required for admission; however, applicants are encouraged to arrange both an interview with an admissions counselor and a campus visit by contacting the Admissions Office.

Required Credentials: Freshmen entering Kent State must submit a high school transcript and American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores. Kent State requires that students take the writing section of the ACT. Students are excused from this test score requirement only if they have been graduated from high school for three or more years or if they are 21 or older at the time of their first enrollment. These test scores are essential in determining students’ admission status and academic aptitudes; assisting in academic advising; and helping to determine scholarship eligibility.

ACT or SAT scores should be reported to Kent State University directly from the testing agency. Students should use the following ACT codes based on the campus to which they plan to be admitted: Ashtabula (3773), East Liverpool (3225), Geauga (3224), Kent (3284/SAT 1367), Salem (3354), Stark (3226), Trumbull (3343), Tuscarawas (3361),

A final high school transcript verifying graduation or a GED certificate/score report is required for both enrollment and financial aid at Kent State University.

Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus: Kent State University’s freshman admission policy differentiates among students with varying degrees of preparation for college studies. The students most likely to be admitted and succeed at the Kent Campus are those who will have graduated with at least 16 units of the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school, who have achieved a minimum high school 2.50 grade point average, and whose composite ACT score is 21 or better (combined SAT score of 980 in critical reading and math).

Students who do not meet the above criteria but who have graduated with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.20 (on a scale of 4.00) at a chartered or accredited high school or have passed the General Educational Development (GED) Examinations may be admitted. High school course selection, class rank, recommendations and ACT/SAT scores will be closely examined for such students in making admissions decisions.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Ohio residents and other applicants not offered admission at the Kent Campus may request that the Admissions Office forward their application for consideration at one of the seven Regional Campuses of Kent State University.

Admission Requirements at the Regional Campuses: Admission to the Regional Campuses is handled through the Admissions Office at any of the seven Regional Campuses. Admission is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Part-time early admission opportunities are available for qualified high school students in consultation with an advisor. In programs with special admission requirements, admission decisions and judgments are made by the director of the program following normal faculty consultative procedures, and take into account factors such as life experience, level of motivation and concern for under-represented groups in the program, as well as such indicators as GPA or ACT score. Each Regional Campus has staff members available to discuss admissions, financial aid opportunities and programs with prospective students.

Registration dates, times, procedures and access methods are similar to those of the Kent Campus. Registration information at a particular campus can be obtained from that campus. Because the seven Regional Campuses and the Kent Campus comprise one university system, access and mobility among the campuses is encouraged and facilitated. Even so, there are some differences between the Kent Campus and the Regional Campuses in freshman and transfer admission requirements.

Kent Campus Referrals: Freshman admission eligibility at the Kent Campus is based upon an applicant’s cumulative high school GPA and, in some cases, standardized test scores and the college preparatory curriculum. Students not meeting the freshman admission criteria for the Kent Campus who wish to enter the Kent State University system must enroll for at least one semester at a Regional Campus. Enrollment at the Regional Campuses permits students to take advantage of smaller class sizes, more individualized advising services and a wider range of developmental programs.

For the deferred freshman or transfer student who enrolls at a Regional Campus to obtain the best possible foundation for academic success, it is recommended that the student complete the following minimum academic achievements before enrolling at the Kent Campus:

Successfully complete any developmental coursework as prescribed by an academic advisor.
Successfully complete 12 semester hours of coursework.
Achieve a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor in planning for the transition to the Kent Campus

Selective Admissions: Freshmen must meet specific requirements to enter several academic programs and academic units at Kent State. Individual requirements for these programs are listed under the respective departments in this catalog. Students interested in these special admission areas should apply one year prior to the date of anticipated enrollment. Even though some of these programs do not have an early application deadline for fall semester, students who apply early will receive priority consideration. Specific questions about these areas can be directed to the Admissions Office or the individual departments/schools.

An admission to Kent State University is valid only for the specific term to which students are first admitted. Students who do not enroll in the term to which they were admitted must submit a new application. The Admissions Office will then determine the students’ admissibility for that term.

Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration: For six weeks, beginning in June, admitted Kent Campus freshmen for the fall semester and their parents are invited to campus for a one-and-a-half day orientation to Kent State. The primary goals of Destination Kent State: Advising and Registration are to acquaint students and parents with university programs and services; provide an individual advising session for each student; and register students for fall classes. New fall-semester freshmen are invited to campus to participate in this program. New spring-semester freshmen are invited for academic advising and registration for spring classes in November and January. [back]

UPPER-DIVISION REQUIREMENT

Most specialization in bachelor's degree programs is pursued through upper-division coursework. Upper-division courses are numbered 30000–49999 and expect both greater familiarity with the subject matter and greater intellectual sophistication. Students must complete the appropriate prerequisites in specified lower-division courses before entering upper-division courses. In general, baccalaureate programs require the successful completion of minimum 39 upper-division semester hours of coursework. [back]

VETERAN STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Ohio veterans of the Armed Services who did not graduate from an accredited high school and who are 21 years of age or older will be considered by Kent State University if they have passed the General Educational Development (GED) examination. Certain training courses provided in the Armed Services may be acceptable for college credit. Certificates of completion for such courses should be submitted to the Office of Admissions for consideration. Veterans may also seek assistance with pre-admission counseling through the Center for Adult and Veteran Services [back]

WORKSHOPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Office of Continuing and Distance Education, in cooperation with academic departments, offers a variety of credit workshops. These workshops are especially designed to meet identified needs of various professions. Each workshop is set up to recognize the needs of the audience in terms of time, place, format and content.

A student holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and who has been accepted by a workshop director for a specified workshop, institute or other special program offering graduate credit may be admitted as a special non-degree workshop student for the term of the workshop only. Prerequisites for admission are set by the instructional department. The temporary admission is valid for only one workshop consisting of a maximum of 12 semester hours. Students desiring to take other non-workshop graduate courses concurrently with the workshop or to do graduate work beyond the length of the workshop term must apply for admission to the appropriate college or school under regular procedures. A student may reapply for subsequent workshop participation under workshop admission regulations.

A maximum of 4 semester credit hours earned in graduate workshops may be applied to a graduate degree program. All workshops are graded S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory). Some departments may be more restrictive. Students are advised to consult their departments regarding application of workshop credit toward degree requirements. [back]

WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSE REQUIREMENT

Students in bachelor's degree programs must complete at least one upper-division course designated as "writing-intensive" with a minimum C (2.00) grade. While the intent is that the requirement be fulfilled within the major, students may use a writing-intensive course in another discipline to fulfill the requirement if permitted by the department/school of their major. [back]