General Policies and Procedures for All Graduate Programs
- Graduate Forms
- Advising
- Transfer Credit
- Records
- Transcripts
- Student Photo Identification
- Course Registration/Enrollment
- Academic Policies and Procedures
Graduate Forms
All required forms are available on the following Web sites: www.arcadia.edu/graduate; www.arcadia.edu/registrar; www.arcadia.edu/ssc and http://my.arcadia.edu. Forms also are available in the Graduate Office (Taylor Hall, Room 102) and the Registrar’s Office (Taylor Hall, Room 103). All information relevant to the College of Graduate Studies is available on MyArcadia.
Advising
The letter of acceptance into a degree program in Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Education, English, Health Education, Humanities and Public Health includes the name of the faculty adviser. Students are required to make an appointment or see their adviser upon admission to a program.
At their conference, the student and adviser prepare a plan for the student’s entire program. The adviser will provide the student with a copy of the approved program; a copy will be retained in the adviser’s file, and one will be filed in the College of Graduate Studies.
While students are welcome to consult with advisers as frequently as they wish, it is necessary to do so only in the following circumstances: when changes in the program are contemplated, when the student has completed the credits required to apply for admission to degree candidacy, and when the student is preparing to register for the final semester of coursework to complete the degree. At the discretion of the adviser, changes in the program can be implemented by correspondence.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 6 graduate credits earned at another institution may be considered for transfer at the time of admission into Arcadia University master’s degree programs in Counseling Psychology, Education, English, Health Education, Humanities and Public Health.
Transfer credit is not accepted for the following programs; doctoral degrees in Education and Physical Therapy and master’s degrees in Business Administration, Forensic Science, Genetic Counseling, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Medical Science (Physician Assistant).
Transfer credits that are less than 10 years old at the time of degree completion may be counted as part of the degree. A grade of “B” or higher must have been earned; the student’s adviser must judge the courses to be relevant to the present program; and the institution that granted the credit must accept the course toward its own degree. Only 3-credit courses or multiples of 3 (i.e., 3 or 6) will be accepted. One-credit courses are not accepted under any circumstances. The student is responsible for supplying official descriptions of courses and any other supporting information requested by the adviser. Also, course credit previously used to fulfill graduate or undergraduate degree requirements may not be considered for transfer into any master’s degree program at Arcadia University.
Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions After Admission
After admission, matriculated students must petition to enroll in a course at another institution with the intention of transferring the credits earned to their Arcadia University program. Students must provide their adviser with a full description of the course and the reasons for enrolling in it. Once the petition form is signed by the adviser, it is sent to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies for a policy review. Approval is not usually granted for courses that are also offered at Arcadia University. Under no circumstances will more than 6 credits be accepted in transfer to an Arcadia University degree program. Forms are available on the following Web sites: www.arcadia.edu/gradforms; www.arcadia.edu/registrar; www.arcadia.edu/ssc and http://my.arcadia.edu. Forms are available in the College of Graduate Studies (Taylor Hall, Room 102) and the Registrar’s Office (Taylor Hall, Room 103).
Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law that provides that a covered educational institution maintains the confidentiality of students’ records. In accordance with the act, with the exception of directory information as defined by Arcadia University, no one outside Arcadia University shall have access to, nor will the University disclose any information from, students’ educational records without the written consent of students, except to appropriate personnel within the University, to officials of other institutions in which students seek to enroll, to persons or organizations providing students’ financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. A complete statement of the University’s policy in this regard is available from the Registrar’s Office.
Transcripts
A fee of $5 is charged for each copy of an official transcript. (Transcripts processed the same day, or sent express delivery, will be charged additional fees.) Transcripts can be ordered via the Internet or by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week; visit www.arcadia.edu/registrar and select the Transcripts link. There is no additional fee to use the Internet link to request transcripts. However, there will be a $5 surcharge to request a transcript by phone using the operator at 800-646-1858, unless the phone call is in reference to technical difficulties using the Internet transcript request. If a written request is preferable, those requests for transcripts should be addressed to the Registrar’s Office and include the following: 1) the name used by the student at the time of attendance; 2) the dates of attendance; 3) the full name and address of the person to whom the transcript is to be sent, and 4) the signature of the student. Transcripts are not released unless all accounts with the University have been paid in full. For questions regarding transcript requests, please call 215-572-2100.
Student Photo Identification
Arcadia University requires photo identification for all students. Refer to semester schedules for information on obtaining a photo ID or contact the Public Safety Department to schedule an appointment, 215-572-2800.
Course Registration/Enrollment
Auditing
During the fall and spring semesters, graduate students carrying 9 or more credit hours may audit, without fee, one additional course with the approval of their adviser and permission of the instructor.
Graduate students carrying up to 6 credit hours and non-matriculated students may audit courses with the necessary approvals and fees. Students must obtain the approval of their adviser and permission of the instructor; non-matriculated students must obtain the permission of the instructor and the chair of the department offering the course. It is understood that auditing is permitted on a non-participatory basis. Courses audited will not be recorded on the student’s transcript. No auditing is permitted during the summer sessions.
Withdrawal from Courses
To withdraw from a course, students must complete the appropriate form available in the Registrar’s Office and at www.arcadia.edu/registrar, signifying their intention to withdraw. Refund of tuition is calculated on the basis of the date on which written notification is received in the Registrar’s Office. (See the refund policy outlined below.) Withdrawal after the seventh week of classes requires written approval from the course instructor and assignment of a grade of “WP” if the student is passing and “WF” if the student is failing at the time of withdrawal. If no official notice of withdrawal is given, the student is not eligible for a refund and a grade of “F” for the course is recorded.
Drop/Add Period
The “course changes – drop/add” timeline appears in semester schedules and the academic calendar. Spring and Fall Semesters: Graduate students may add or substitute courses before the second class session. They may not enroll in a class after its second session has met without the approval of the instructor or the appropriate department chair. Summer Sessions: During the first two days of each session, students may substitute or add courses. They may not enroll in a class after its second session. Summer Workshops: After the first day, students are not admitted to a workshop.
Refunds
The refund policy applies only to tuition charges; fees are not refundable. During the fall and spring semesters, students who formally withdraw from one or more courses within the first five weeks of classes are entitled to a refund according to the schedule listed below. Refunds are calculated on the basis of the date on which notification was received by the Registrar’s Office. Withdrawal within Percent tuition paid by the student
1st week 10%
2nd week 20%
3rd week 40%
4th week 60%
5th week 80%
After 5th week No Refund
For Summer Sessions I, II, III and Workshops, a refund of 50 percent is allowed for withdrawal within the first week of classes.
Students considering withdrawal after the seventh week of a semester are encouraged to contact the Student Service Center in order to obtain a detailed estimate of the financial implications of their withdrawal. This is extremely relevant when a student loan is involved.
Substitutions for Required Courses
Another graduate course may be substituted for a course required for a degree if, in the judgment of the department offering the degree, the student has sufficient knowledge of the required course content to fulfill degree requirements. Before allowing the substitution, an examination covering the course content may be given in order to determine the student’s level of competence. No course credit is earned by passing the examination.
Course Loads
During the fall and spring semesters, the normal load for full-time, non-cohort, students is 9 to 12 credit hours per semester. For students who are employed full-time, it is recommended that students enroll in no more than 6 credits per semester. The maximum course load for the summer sessions is 6 credit hours for Summer Sessions I and II, and 3 credit hours for Summer Session III. Students participating in a summer workshop may not schedule any other course concurrently.
Course Numbers
Numbers from the 500 to 800 levels designate graduate courses. Certain upper-level undergraduate courses numbered 400 are approved by the Graduate Academic Programs Committee for graduate credit. If a 400-level course not approved for graduate credit would enhance the student’s professional preparation or current or anticipated teaching assignments, the student must present a written request to have the course accepted for the master’s degree. The request must be approved by the student’s adviser and sent to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
Procedures for Special Status Students
Non-matriculated students may enroll in courses as Special Status students. Up to 12 graduate credits earned as a Special Status student can be accepted toward a degree, if the courses are appropriate for the program to which the student later applies. It is wise for Special Status students who are interested in pursuing a degree program to apply promptly, before accumulating inappropriate courses. Enrollment as a Special Status student does not ensure admission to a degree program. Special Status application forms are available on MyArcadia (http://my.arcadia.edu) and in the College of Graduate Studies, and the Registrar’s Office. A registration hold will be placed on anyone who has earned 12 graduate credits and has not been accepted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Special status is not permitted in the following: doctoral programs in Education and Physical Therapy, and master’s programs in Business Administration, Forensic Science, Genetic Counseling, International Peace and Conflict Resolution and Medical Science (Physician Assistant).
Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Arcadia University undergraduate students who are within a few credits of meeting the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may, with the permission of the department chair, faculty adviser and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, enroll in a limited number of graduate courses (500-level courses). Credit may be awarded either toward the bachelor’s or the master’s degree, but not both.
Academic Policies and Procedures
Policies and procedures for graduate students are devised to safeguard the integrity of the degree or certificate granted, to facilitate the student’s progress toward the degree, and to prevent delays and misunderstandings.
Each student is responsible for being thoroughly familiar with all policies and procedures and with the requirements of the specific program: degree, certificate, or certification. This catalog should be consulted regularly. Updates to the printed catalog are available on the Web at www.arcadia.edu/registrar. If the student has any doubt or question about requirements or procedures, he or she should consult the Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies for clarification.
Conferring of Degrees
Degrees are conferred at the completion of a program. A formal Commencement exercise takes place in May. All students completing their degrees at any time during the academic year are invited to participate and will receive information regarding the Commencement ceremony. Information also is available online at www.arcadia.edu in early March. Attendance at Commencement is not mandatory.
Graduation Honors
Students are recognized at Commencement and honored by the University for having achieved academic excellence in their degree programs. Latin honors are not used in graduate study; instead students receive “Distinction” on their records and diploma. Requirements for distinction are as follows:
A cumulative grade point average of 3.9 to 4.0 is required for programs in Business Administration, Counseling Psychology, Education, English, Forensic Science, Health Education, Humanities, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Public Health, the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, and the Doctor of Education.
A cumulative grade point average of 3.7 to 4.0 is required in the Doctor of Physical Therapy, the Master of Science in Genetic Counseling, and the Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant) degree programs.
Transfer credit is calculated for eligibility for distinction.
