I. Welcome

II. Important Information for All Students

III. Undergraduate Student Procedures and Policies

IV. Graduate Students

V. Services for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

VI. Student Rights and Responsibilities

VII. University Writing Standards

VIII. University Policies

IX. Directory of Information

B. Undergraduate Specific Resources and Services

C. Student Life

ABSENCES
Short absences (one or two classes) from the University do not require official notification. Students anticipating prolonged absence (more than one week) from classes should notify the Office of the Dean of Students. If a student seems unable to meet course requirements because of absence, he/she may want to consider a withdrawal from the course or an "IN" grade-which requires faculty approval.

ACADEMIC ADVISING
All students are encouraged to seek academic advising each semester. Students with a declared major receive their academic advising from their major department advisor. Freshmen students with an undeclared major receive their academic advising from their New Student experience advisor, Morehead Hall, Room 100. Undeclared students beyond their freshman year receive their academic advising from the Center for Academic Advising and Adult Learning in Morehead Hall, Room 132. Students admitted in special programs, such as the Equal Opportunity Fund Program, the Health Careers Program and the Honors Program are assigned advisors within their specific areas.

Academic advisors and department faculty advisors provide students with assistance in developing an academic program of study, choosing courses consistent with this program as well as discussing career options.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
A student found guilty of academic dishonesty shall be subject to suspension or dismissal from the university. The disciplinary procedures in force are described in the Regulations and Code of Conduct section of this handbook.

STANDARDS FOR ACADEMIC PROGRESS
For Academic Standards purposes, total semester hours attempted will be used to determine a student’s class standing.

Probation
Students will be placed on academic probation if their GPA falls below 2.000 at the end of a semester or summer session. Students are removed from academic probation when their cumulative GPA is 2.000 or better.

Suspension
If while on academic probation, a student who has attempted a minimum of 12 semester hours and earns a cumulative GPA below 2.000 for a semester or summer session’s work, that student will be academically suspended. Students academically suspended cannot enroll in courses at Montclair State University under any circumstance for two semesters. Students who have been academically suspended and have been away from Montclair State University for the prescribed length of time are eligible to apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions. Readmitted students are not necessarily admitted back into their chosen major. Readmission is not automatic and will be based upon the review of documents submitted in support of the readmission application. Additionally, readmission is based on the probability of success in the chosen major and upon the space available at the time of readmission.

Dismissal
A student who is readmitted from academic suspension must earn at least a 2.000 semester GPA their first semester back or the student will be academically dismissed.

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to fulfill all course requirements, and although attendance is not always mandatory, it is desirable. Absence from laboratory or studio sessions shall be by agreement with the professor. Professors should notify the students, in writing, of what the course expectations may be regarding attendance. Professors may penalize the students for failure to meet specific attendance requirements.

Students who register are considered enrolled in their courses regardless of attendance. Students should ascertain attendance requirements at the onset of each course. Refer to the university catalog for specific guidelines.

COURSE EVALUATION
Montclair State encourages faculty members to continually evaluate student progress so that a semester grade may be broad based.

Evaluations and/or final examinations are generally of a comprehensive nature covering the semester's work, but the form varies with individual professors and classes. In some courses, final examinations may be eliminated and other means of evaluation substituted.

DEAN'S LIST
The Academic Dean's List is issued after the close of the fall and spring semesters by the academic deans and gives recognition to students with a 3.500 or higher semester grade point average (GPA). A minimum of 12 credits must be earned in the courses that contribute to the GPA.

Part-time students are eligible for the Dean's List each time they achieve a GPA of 3.500 or higher on 12 or more credits, which contribute to the GPA. The credits must be earned in two consecutive semesters, excluding summer sessions, with a minimum of six credits in each term. Once a semester's credits have been used to successfully attain Dean's List status for a part-time student, they may not be used for this purpose again.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
A minimum of 120 semester hours of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 2.000 GPA. However, more than 120 semester hours may be required depending upon the major field of study. Some majors have minimum GPA requirements higher than a 2.000. Specific requirements depend on date of entry or date of major declaration and vary from major to major. Students are advised to review the particular requirements for a bachelor's degree in their programs with their faculty advisors or academic advisors.

All students seeking initial instructional certification in the State of New Jersey must complete a course in the area of Human and Intercultural Relations.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Most degree programs require the following distribution of courses:

DRESS CODE
The individual student's discretion and sense of proper attire for the particular event or activity are the guidelines governing modes of dress on campus.

(Grades of D+, D, D- are not an option for graduate students in any course.)

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
The GPA is determined by dividing the total quality points earned by the total number of quality hours. Method:
1. Determine the arithmetic value for each letter grade (see above).
2. Multiply the credit hours for each course by the arithmetic value for the letter grade to obtain the quality points.
3. Total all quality hours at MSU.
4. Total all quality points earned at MSU.
5. Divide the total quality points by the total quality hours to find cumulative average (GPA).

Examples:
3 credit hours in course with grade of C (2) = 6 quality points
3 credit hours in course with grade of B (3) = 9 quality points
4 credit hours in course with grade of A (4) = 16 quality points
2 credit hours in course with grade of B (3) = 6 quality points

Transfer credits and grades of P, IN, AU, NC, RD-, RD, RD+ and RF (repeat) are not included in the calculation of grade point average.

GRADUATION HONORS
Undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 51 undergraduate credits at Montclair State University are eligible to be recognized for academic honors. Grades of "A" through "D-" must be received for a minimum of 48 of these 51 credits. For purposes of determining the grade point average (GPA), for graduation, academic honors, dean's list, academic probation, academic furlough, suspension and dismissal, and all other situations which require a specific GPA, Montclair State maintains GPAs to three decimal places. No additional rounding will occur.

Academic honors are awarded as follows:

An honors diploma will be awarded. A period of two months should be allowed for verification of cumulative average, printing, and mailing. However, the honors notation will appear on the official transcript approximately one month after graduation.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Full-time undergraduates in good academic standing, (minimum cumulative grade point average 2.000) may take a Leave of Absence by arrangement through the Center for Academic Advising & Adult Learning,located in Morehead Hall, Room 132.

Students who take a leave of more than one semester must follow the normal readmission procedures if they wish to return to Montclair State.

PART-TIME PROVISIONALLY-MATRICULATED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Enrollment for part-time provisional students is limited to a maximum of 9 semester hours of coursework each term. Students may enroll in day, evening or weekend classes. Upon completion of 15 semester hours of course work and a grade point average of 2.000 ("C") or better, students are granted matriculation status. At this point students may register for a full-time course load.

Provisional students who do not meet the minimum retention requirement after attempting 15 semester hours of course work are dismissed from MSU. Provisional students will receive advising from the New Student Experience at (973) 655-7609 during their first two semesters at MSU.

READMISSION
Former Montclair State undergraduate students who have not attended for more than two semesters prior to the semester they wish to re-enter must file an application for readmission through the Office of Admissions prior to December 1 for the Spring semester, and August 1 for the Fall semester. Readmitted students for the Fall may begin taking courses during the Summer Sessions. This policy applies to Leave of Absence students as well as withdrawn. Readmission of withdrawn students is determined by previous record and on available space and is not automatic. Automatically suspended students cannot enroll in courses at Montclair State under any circumstances for two semesters. They are then eligible to apply for readmission. Students who have been academically dismissed cannot enroll here under any circumstance for two calendar years or until they have earned at least 30 semester hours from another accredited college or university. Once eligible to apply, readmission is not automatic for either suspended or dismissed students and will be based upon the review of documents submitted in support of the readmission application.

REPEATED COURSES
The policy of Montclair State University does not allow undergraduate students to repeat, more than twice, a course in which a grade of "F" was earned. The Dean of each College and School will have the discretion to make exceptions to this policy in special cases and extenuating circumstances. Graduate students who receive a grade of "F" are not permitted to repeat the course. The Dean of the Graduate School will have the discretion to make exceptions to this policy in special cases and extenuating circumstances.

Courses in which the student received grades of "C-" or higher cannot be repeated. If a course in which the student previously earned a grade of "C-" or higher at MSU is repeated at MSU (other than on an official Audit basis—see section on Auditing Courses) the second grade will be posted as "NC" (No Credit). It is the student's responsibility to ensure that his/her registration does not include ineligible courses.

To repeat a course, a student must register and make payment for that course. Courses must be repeated prior to graduation. There is no special approval required to repeat a course in which a grade of "D-", "D" or "D+" was received. Where a course is no longer offered, the Dean of the College or School, in consultation with the Department Chairperson, shall designate an appropriate replacement course.
A COURSE REPEATED AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION DOES NOT REMOVE AN "F", "D-", "D" or "D+" AT MONTCLAIR STATE.
When a course has been repeated, both the original and subsequent courses are included on the permanent record, but the credit is counted only once. The grade received in the repeated course becomes the official final grade.

STUDY AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION
Undergraduate students who want to take course(s) at another approved college or university and transfer the credits back to Montclair State must obtain permission from their department chairperson and the chairperson of the Montclair State department offering the equivalent course(s) prior to enrolling in such course(s). Permission forms known as "Request for Work at Another Institution" are available in the Office of the Registrar. Students undecided on a major must obtain permission from the Director of Academic Advising and the chairperson of the department offering the equivalent Montclair State course(s).

UNDERGRADUATES ENROLLED IN GRADUATE COURSES
MSU seniors within 16 semester hours of completing bachelor's degree requirements, who possess at least a 2.670 grade point average and have taken all required prerequisites, may apply to take up to 6 hours of 500 level courses for either undergraduate or graduate credit, if prior permission is granted. A graduate course taken for undergraduate credit cannot later be included in a graduate degree program. If courses are taken for graduate credit, graduate tuition and fees will be charged. Appropriate forms are available at the Office of Graduate Admissions and Support Services and must be submitted in person in the Office of the Registrar by the student or his/her representative.

Permission given to an undergraduate to take graduate (500) level courses does not imply future acceptance into any graduate program; that can only be done by a separate admissions process. Those planning to matriculate in graduate programs at the University should refer to the Graduate Catalog for specific admission requirements.

WITHDRAWAL FROM MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
All undergraduate students who decide to withdraw or would like to request a leave of absence from Montclair State must complete the form "Notice of Withdrawal/Leave of Absence" available in the Center for Academic Advising and Adult Learning, Morehead Hall, Room 132. Students must officially withdraw from any courses themselves. Submitting the form will not drop students from courses. If the student is a minor, the signature of a parent or guardian is required on the "Withdrawal-Leave of Absence" form. Strict adherence to the withdrawal procedure is necessary for readmission to Montclair State.

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the University after the deadline or to drop courses due to medical reasons or personal emergency must petition the Dean of Students in writing, and provide appropriate supporting documentation.