Scholastic Regulations

Scholastic regulations embody the academic standards of a university. The following regulations are directed toward upholding the standards of this University, specifically by requiring satisfactory academic progress. Continuation of students who lack the necessary ability, preparation, industry, or maturity is inconsistent with the purposes and responsibilities of the University. See GRADUATE STUDIES  for regulations that apply to graduate studies.

Academic Status

There are three categories of academic status for undergraduate students: academic good standing and eligible to be enrolled, academic probation and eligible to be enrolled, and academic suspension and not eligible to be enrolled. Each student is responsible for knowing his/her academic status at the end of each enrollment period.

Academic Good Standing

Undergraduate students are expected to achieve and maintain an overall (cumulative) grade point average of at least 2.0 on all college work attempted. Students are considered to be in good standing as long as they are eligible to be enrolled; therefore, students on academic probation are considered in good standing since they are eligible to be enrolled.

Academic Probation

With the exception of a student’s enrollment under AEP or Dual Enrollment and their first semester at LSUS, an undergraduate student will be placed on academic probation whenever the overall undergraduate grade point average is below a 2.0. A student will remain on academic probation until an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher is achieved. A student on academic probation will be suspended from the University at the conclusion of a semester in which a semester grade point average of less than 2.0 is earned. Once an overall grade point average of 2.0 is achieved, the student will be removed from academic probation.

Students placed on academic probation may be subject to restrictions on the number of hours that can be taken while on probation. A student should consult with his/her academic Dean’s office regarding specific restrictions for each College.

Academic Suspension

Undergraduate students on academic probation will be suspended following any semester in which a semester grade point average of less than 2.0 is earned. The suspension period for first and second suspension will be one semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer). For example, a student suspended for one semester following the spring will be eligible to re-enroll in the Fall; a student suspended for one semester following the Summer will be eligible to re-enroll in the Spring; and a student suspended for one semester following the Fall will be eligible to re-enroll in the Summer. The length of all subsequent suspensions will be one calendar year.

Students on academic suspension will be subject to the following restrictions:

1. Students on academic suspension may not apply any credits earned elsewhere during the period of suspension toward a degree at LSUS.
2. A student on academic suspension may register to audit LSUS courses only with the approval of the Dean of his/her College.
3. After sitting out the period of academic suspension, students must reapply for admission into LSUS. (Students suspended following the spring semester will not have to reapply if enrolling for the subsequent Fall semester.) Students admitted following a period of suspension will be placed on academic probation for the semester in which they first enroll.

Appeals

A student on academic suspension for the first time may petition the Dean of his/her College to enroll under Conditional Readmission.

Subsequent suspensions may be appealed to the Admissions and Standards Committee. A student who feels that they have some basis for such an appeal should see the Dean of his/her College to initiate the process.

Conditional Readmission

A student who is placed on academic suspension for the first time may petition the Dean of their College to enroll under Conditional Readmission. Readmission, if approved, will be based on the following conditions:

• Enrollment is limited to no more than six hours, unless approved by the Dean of the student’s College.
• Approval restricts enrollment to coursework at LSUS.
• Such readmission is noted on the academic record.

A student not making at least a 2.0 GPA during the semester in which Conditional Readmission is granted will be suspended for a second time.

Academic Integrity

LSUS has a responsibility to protect its educational mission and the health and safety of the university community through the setting of standards of scholarship and conduct for its students. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with the provisions of the LSUS Code of Student Conduct.

Instances of academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration) will be reported to the Student Advocacy and Accountability Office. If a student is found responsible for academic misconduct, they could face loss of credit for the work and/or the course involved, disciplinary probation, and/or separation from the University as determined by the accountability process.

Academic Bankruptcy Policy

The undergraduate student who has not been enrolled in a college or university for three consecutive years may elect, only once, to deny all work attempted at all colleges or universities prior to the three-year period. The three-year period need not immediately precede the exercise of this option. This work will appear on the student’s permanent record but will not be used in computing the grade point average.

The student must apply for and declare academic bankruptcy for credit courses in the Office of Admissions and Records at the time of application for admission or readmission to LSUS or within one calendar year from the first day of enrollment or re-enrollment. The declaration of academic bankruptcy must be completed prior to this deadline. A decision to declare academic bankruptcy is irreversible.

A student declaring academic bankruptcy at the time of readmission will be subject to an academic status review (see ACADEMIC STATUS) immediately following his/her first semester of enrollment. Students should be aware that not all colleges and universities recognize academic bankruptcy policies of another institution, and may consider all courses previously attempted when determining admissibility or establishing a transfer grade point average. LSUS will consider all grades, including those for courses bankrupted, in awarding degrees with honors. Students who previously earned a bachelor’s degree are no longer eligible for academic bankruptcy.

Class Attendance

Students at LSUS are expected to give their scholastic obligations first consideration. Students should not schedule classes that conflict with their employment and should come to class regularly and punctually. An absence, avoidable or unavoidable, does not relieve the student from responsibility for coursework.

1. Reporting of absences by faculty. An Instructor will report excessive absences to a student’s Dean when the absences may cause failure in the course or lower the student’s course grade.
2. Consequences of excessive absences. The student’s Dean will endeavor to determine the reasons for the student’s absences. After consulting the Instructor, the Dean may advise the student to withdraw from the class or to attend class regularly. Continued nonattendance does not constitute a formal withdrawal from a class and will result in a non-rescindable F grade.
3. Absences for authorized events. An authorized event is a University-sanctioned activity in which the student is representing the University. A student who will miss class for an authorized event must arrange for missed assignments or exams with each Instructor. If the Instructor has a concern about the event or questions make-up work, the student must contact the University official in charge of the event, who will secure written approval from the student’s Dean. Students are permitted to make-up exams or assignments missed for participating in authorized University events. Arrangements for make-up work must be made with the Instructor before the event.

Final Examinations

Final examinations are required in all courses and are given in accordance with the schedule issued by the Office of Academic Affairs. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs must approve any exception to this requirement.

A student absent from a final examination because of illness or other valid reason may take a special examination upon the approval of the student’s Dean. The responsibility for notifying the Dean’s office rests with the student.

A student with three or more exams in one day may petition through his/her academic Dean to take only two exams on the same day.

Grading Procedures

Grading System

Numerical Expression of Letter Grades

For purposes of converting numerical grades on student transcripts from other institutions to LSUS letter grades, the following scale is used: A (93 - 100); B (85 - 92); C (77 - 84); D (65 - 76); F (below 65, failure). This scale is not to be construed as the grading scale for courses taken at LSUS.

Pass/No Credit Option

Details regarding the pass/no credit option are contained within individual College requirement sections of this catalog. Additional information may be obtained from the office of the student’s Dean.

In addition to this elective option, certain courses grade all students on a pass/no credit basis. Such courses are identified in the lists of undergraduate and graduate courses in this catalog.

Repeated Courses

A student may repeat a course for which a grade has been previously earned and all courses pursued, including all repeated courses, are recorded on the transcript using this legend:

T = Prior Attempt(s)
R = Last Attempt
A = Bankruptcy
M = Course may be taken multiple times for credit

However, when a student repeats for credit a course previously taken, only the last grade determines acceptability of the course for degree credit. Consequently, if a grade of F is earned when the course is repeated, the prior credit is lost. Except for courses which are designed as repeat for credit, a course may be counted only once in the total hours for a degree. All grades earned in the course are used in computing the grade point average (semester, LSUS, and cumulative), however, degree credit may be awarded only for the last repeat.

If a course number or title changes, the Chair of the Department and the Dean of the College offering the course must approve a request to repeat. See the GRADUATE STUDIES  section of this catalog for regulations regarding repeated graduate courses.

WARNING: Upon presentation of an LSUS transcript to another institution for evaluation, it is the prerogative of that institution to include or exclude repeated courses in the calculation of the GPA.

Repeated course policies from other colleges and universities are not recognized by LSUS.

Repeatable Courses

Courses may not be repeated for additional credit unless the catalog course description specifies that the course is repeatable. This is not to be confused with retaking a course for which a grade has been earned. (See REPEATED COURSES above.)

Academic Records

Grade Reports

Final grades are available online via the internet at www.lsus.edu/current-students/myLSUS on the day prior to graduation for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Final grades for the accelerated online sessions are available online via the internet at www.lsus.edu/current-students/myLSUS the Saturday following the grade due date.

Honor Lists

Each semester LSUS honors full-time undergraduate students whose semester averages are at least 3.5 (Dean’s List) or 3.8 (Chancellor’s List).

Transcript of Record

A student may obtain an official transcript provided there are no financial obligations to the University. The transcript request must be signed by the student and submitted at least two days prior to issuance of the transcript. Official transcripts may also be requested online using myLSUS (www.lsus.edu/current-students/myLSUS). Transcripts are not issued for seven working days following the end of a semester. If the official transcript is not received by the other institution within thirty days, an official transcript may be re-issued and mailed to the institution to which it was originally sent. Unofficial transcripts can be viewed and printed via myLSUS.

Appeals of Final Grades Assigned in Courses

The process for appealing course grades consists of up to three steps, which must be followed in order, described in detail below:

1. Attempt a resolution with the Instructor of the course.
2. Appeal to the Chair of the Department.
3. Appeal to the Dean of the College.

The student may choose to accept resolution of the matter at any stage.

Please note: Appeals must be based clearly on alleged prejudice, bad faith, capricious action, or similar reasons. Neither a lower than expected grade nor the alleged difficulty of a course or test warrants an appeal. The following do not qualify as basis for appeals: technical issues unrelated to university-provided services such as problems with the student’s internet service provider, malfunctioning personal devices including computers, tablets and phones, malfunctioning browsers; performance below expectations on tests; perceived difficulty or appropriateness of class material, textbooks, or assignments and tests; dissatisfaction with Instructor’s qualifications, teaching methods, or teaching effectiveness.

Step 1: Consult the Instructor of the class. A student who has a question about a final grade should first discuss the matter with the faculty member teaching the course.

Step 2: File the appeal through the Student Appeal Form (form) with the Chair of the Department. If the student is unable to resolve the issue after speaking with the Instructor of the course, the student must then file a Student Appeal Form with the Chair of the Department offering the course. The form must be signed and either scanned via email or submitted in person to the Chair of the Instructor’s Department. This form must be submitted to the Department Chair along with a detailed letter of appeal and any supporting documentation or materials within 30 calendar days of the start of the term or session following the one in which the grade was recorded. If the Department Chair is the Instructor, then the appeal should be submitted to the College Dean. This form can also be used to appeal results of qualifying exams (e.g. comprehensive exam) and presentations (e.g. proposal or thesis defense) in which case the appeal should be submitted to the Program Director. The Department Chair will then investigate the appeal contacting necessary parties as needed. This decision will be communicated to the student within two weeks of the date the appeal form was received and the appeal form and paperwork will be sent to the office of the Dean of the College.

Step 3: Continue the appeal to the Dean of the College. If the student wishes to appeal the Department Chair’s (or College Dean’s) decision, they will send an email, with justification for the second appeal, to the Dean of the College. The Dean will then review the documentation of the appeal and will decide not to accept the appeal if they deem it to be unfounded. If the Dean deems that the appeal is appropriate and justified, they will convene a panel of three tenured, Full Professors from outside the course’s School. This panel will then investigate the appeal, consult appropriated parties (if necessary), and hold a hearing (if necessary) with the student participating via Skype or Zoom, as needed. The panel will then make a recommendation to the Dean of College who makes the final decision and communicates that decision to the student within three weeks of the date the student forwarded the appeal. The Dean of the College also notifies the Department Chair, the Program Director, and the Instructor. If the decision requires change in an official University record, the Chief Academic Officer must comply with all University regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change. The decision of the Chief Academic Officer shall conclude the matter, subject to the right of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Chancellor to review the case. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will consider the case only based on a separate petition for review after Step 3 of the above appeals process has been completed. The Chancellor will consider the case only on based on a separate petition for review and only if the student wishes to appeal the Vice Chancellor’s decision.

Information regarding additional student appeals and the Code of Student Conduct is located in the Student Handbook. For further information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students: 318/797.5116.